Question 1

Is Sentinel really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sentinel Basic is free forever for 1 production server with no credit card required. It includes database optimization, security monitoring, and cache management.

Question 2

How do I install Sentinel on my VPS?

Accepted Answer

Installation takes about 60 seconds. Run the one-line install command from your terminal, and Sentinel will set up as a systemd service that starts automatically on boot.

Question 3

Does Sentinel support MySQL and PostgreSQL?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sentinel monitors both MySQL and PostgreSQL. It analyzes slow query logs, runs EXPLAIN on queries, detects missing indexes, and can automatically apply safe index suggestions during scheduled night maintenance windows.

Question 4

How does Sentinel handle security monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Sentinel integrates natively with Fail2Ban and CrowdSec. It detects brute-force attacks, manages jails, and secures SSH and web entry points automatically. It blocks over 95% of attacks before they reach your application.

Question 5

What is Queen and do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Queen is Sentinel's optional central intelligence brain for managing a fleet of servers. It aggregates threat data, fix history, and ROI profiles across all your drones (servers). It's included in the Pro plan and above — the Basic free tier works fully without it.

Question 6

Does Sentinel require Docker?

Accepted Answer

No. Sentinel runs as a native systemd service directly on your Linux server. No Docker, no Kubernetes, no additional infrastructure required.

Question 7

What is the difference between Basic and Pro plans?

Accepted Answer

Basic is free forever for 1 server. Pro is $49/month for up to 5 servers with full autopilot and Queen Knowledge Brain. Enterprise is $149/month and adds AI Chat, AI Healer, and Cross-Fleet IP Reputation powered by Claude (BYOK).

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