Is Sentinel really free?

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

How do I install Sentinel on my VPS?

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.

Does Sentinel support MySQL and PostgreSQL?

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.

How does Sentinel handle security monitoring?

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.

What is Queen and do I need it?

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.

Does Sentinel require Docker?

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

What is the difference between Basic and Pro plans?

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).

AI ToolsAugust 15, 20262 min read

Why Your Database Needs an Autopilot (And How to Install One in 60 Seconds)

Why Your Database Needs an Autopilot (And How to Install One in 60 Seconds) Sentinel AI was born from the frustration of manually firefighting problems that could be prevented. Here's how it works und...

FixFlex Admin

Founder @ FixFlex LTD, West London

Why Your Database Needs an Autopilot (And How to Install One)

Sentinel AI was born from the frustration of manually firefighting problems that could be prevented. Here's how it works under the hood.

The Silent Killers of Database Performance

Every production server can suffer from performance issues. Traditional monitoring tools alert you after these problems cause pain. Sentinel takes a different approach.

How the Autopilot Works

Sentinel can automatically detect issues, analyze affected queries, create missing indexes, and log the action with before/after plans. All without waking anyone up. Here's the technical breakdown:

The Analysis Engine

Slow Query Mining
Parses slow query logs and uses real EXPLAIN plans.
Pathology Detection
Flags relevant query patterns and resource issues.
Safety Checks
Before any automatic index creation, relevant system conditions are verified.

The Security Layer

While optimizing databases, Sentinel also handles: - Automated IP blocking via Fail2Ban and CrowdSec integration - Attack correlation across server fleets (Enterprise tier) - SSL expiry monitoring with proper TLS handshake checks

Installation

Installation typically takes 2-4 minutes (venv setup + pip dependencies). For Linux-based operating systems:

curl -sSL https://sentinel-ai.info/install.sh | sudo bash

This installs Sentinel and starts the web UI.

The Pro tier starts from $49/month for up to 5 servers and unlocks automated index creation and cross-server security sync. Enterprise costs $149/month for up to 10 servers and adds the AI Chat interface and Cross-Fleet IP Reputation.

What to Expect After Deployment

Performance metrics are established and slow queries are analyzed. Automatic optimizations are applied and security patterns are identified. Optimization history becomes visible in the dashboard.

The Unfair Advantage

Servers running Sentinel see recurring issues addressed proactively.

Try the free Basic tier for 1 production server on one production server - no credit card required. It might just change how you think about server management.