# Glossary
# Asset Storage
Directus Core allows asset storage for any type of file. This applies to all Cloud Projects. However, on Directus Cloud, certain hard technical limits apply to file uploads, such as limits on size per asset and total asset storage per Project. For more details, see Cloud Policies (opens new window)
# Automatic Updates
Software updates on any app can be a time-consuming chore, taking developer energy and focus away from core business logic. Cloud Projects are updated every two weeks in rolling releases (i.e. done with no downtime). These updates keep your Project on the latest version and fully up to date with all Cloud Exclusives, dependencies and security patches.
Version-locking
Version-locking is available on Enterprise Projects.
# Backups
By default, file assets and databases are backed up once per day on all Standard and Enterprise Projects. Additionally, Enterprise customers can work with our team for more tailored backup solutions. In the event of an emergency, such as your Node crashing, don't worry! Your data will be safe. If you need access to your backed-up data, contact us (opens new window)
WARNING
Please note that Community Projects are not backed up.
# Caching
Caching is enabled on Cloud Projects. Public data is cached in the CDN for a short period of time. All Directus Cloud Projects are running behind a Global CDN, but Enterprise Projects offer advanced caching strategies, as well.
# Cloud Exclusives
Our managed service includes several Cloud-Exclusive Extensions that are not available to self-hosted users. It's important to note that these are not paywalled Core features, but are progressive enhancements that add to the base offering. Our team is always adding new exclusives, so check back often to stay up to date with the latest and greatest features! Cloud Exclusives development is managed by the Core Team, so these will stay up to date with the latest version of Directus. Examples include:
- Kanban Layout
TIP
Looking to sponsor development of an Extension or Cloud Exclusive? Contact Us (opens new window)
# Data Portability
Directus Core is totally detached from the database. Data can be cleanly imported and exported on Projects with the API via the schema endpoints.
Enterprise Clients
The Directus Team will help you work through this process on all Enterprise Projects (opens new window)
# Datacenter Regions
The location you choose to host your Project in can have a measurable impact. To help optimize your Project and meet any local data compliance laws such as GDPR, Standard and Enterprise offer multiple Datacenter regions to host from. There are 19 regions available for Enterprise Projects, 3 for Standard Projects, and 1 for Community Projects:
| Region | Enterprise | Standard | Community |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States, East | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Europe, Frankfurt | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Asia Pacific, Singapore | ✅ | ✅ | |
| United States, West | ✅ | ||
| Africa, Cape Town | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Hong Kong | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Jakarta | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Mumbai | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Osaka | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Seoul | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Sydney | ✅ | ||
| Asia Pacific, Tokyo | ✅ | ||
| Canada, Central | ✅ | ||
| Europe, Ireland | ✅ | ||
| Europe, London | ✅ | ||
| Europe, Paris | ✅ | ||
| Europe, Stockholm | ✅ | ||
| Middle East, Bahrain | ✅ | ||
| South America, São Paulo | ✅ |
# Encryption and Security
Asset Storage, data storage and in-transit encryption are included on all Cloud Projects. All data at rest remains encrypted, and HTTPS/TLS protocols are enabled on all in-transit data. Cloud Projects are created with secure and safe tenancy architectures.
Directus Core Security Features
Directus core comes with even more security features out-of-the-box, including IP address whitelabeling, 2FA enabling, SSO options, customization for Password Rule requirements and the flexibility to use any access token paradigm desired.
# Extensions
The term Extension refers to any feature or component that adds to the functionality of Directus Core. Directus has been architected to be completely modular and extensible to ensure you will never hit a hard feature ceiling within the platform.
All Cloud Projects have access to the Cloud Exclusive Extensions, which are developed and maintained by the Core Team. Enterprise Projects get all Cloud Exclusives, but also have the option to implement their own custom Extensions as needed.
# Global CDN
A Global CDN is provided for all Cloud Projects, out-of-the-box, with over 300 cache locations. This means assets and data will be delivered with the lowest possible latency.
# Infrastructure
In the context of these docs, Infrastructure refers to the hardware running your Project, including the database, serverless nodes, asset storage and global CDN. Infrastructure differs by Project tier. Please refer to Projects as well as the Infrastructure section on the Pricing page (opens new window) for side-by-side comparisons.
# Nodes
Directus Cloud provides you with options for configuring processing power of your Node as well as the number of Nodes your Project runs on. You can configure and reconfigure Nodes to meet traffic needs at any scale. In general, there are two approaches to scale performance: vertical-scaling and horizontal-scaling. Vertical-scaling refers to the use of improved hardware (e.g. better CPUs and more RAM) to scale up. In Directus Cloud, configuring the Node Type will provide vertical-scaling. Horizontal-scaling refers to increasing the number of Nodes to scale up. In Directus Cloud, adding more Active and Standby Nodes will provide horizontal-scaling.
# Node Types
Each Node Type provides a different level of processing power.
Community
Community Projects come equipped with one Node, which can handle basic web traffic required for hobby projects, learning and demoing Directus Cloud, and other non-production use cases. Community Nodes will pause after 3 days of inactivity.General Purpose
General Purpose Nodes are the basic Node Type offered on Standard Projects. These Nodes are the right choice for most small- to medium- scale, production-ready use cases.Performance Tier
Performance Tier Nodes are the upgraded Node Type offered on Standard Projects, which may provide better performance under certain conditions, such as for handling Image transformations as well as fetching deeply nested or complex relationships via the API.Enterprise
Node configuration options are flexible and customizable, tailored to your Project's needs.
TIP
In Standard Projects, the Node Type configured and associated cost per hour will apply to both Active and Standby Nodes.
# Active Nodes
Active Nodes stay on constantly. Projects must have at least one Active Node in order to function.
WARNING
Community Nodes paused due to inactivity can't receive requests until unpaused.
# Load Balancing
Similar to the term horizontal scaling, the term load balancing refers to the instantaneous distribution of load across the Active Nodes on which your Project is running.
# Standby Nodes
Standby Nodes stay turned-off until traffic starts to take up significant system capacity, at which point Standby Nodes activate one-by-one, as needed, to safely handle the increase in traffic. Activation occurs within just a few moments.
Standby Nodes are not required, however you don't pay for usage when Standby Nodes are disabled. For more pricing information, see billing.
# Auto-scaling
Auto-scaling refers to the automatic horizontal scaling provided by Standby Nodes, which helps to keep system capacity at safe levels.
Optimal Node Configuration
As noted under Billing, Projects can be reconfigured as needed. Check out the Project Monitor page for performance analytics that can help inform Node configuration decisions.
# Quotas
Directus does not impose arbitrary software-based limits of any kind. So for things like Collections, Roles or Users - whether you have 10 or 10,000 of them - you are free to build out your Project as needed, with no up-charge. However, actual Project performance is going to depend on Node configuration, so there are hard technical limits. For details, see Cloud Policies (opens new window)
# Rate Limiting
Rate limiting refers to technical limitations within Directus Cloud as well as Cloud Projects.
For details, see Cloud Policies (opens new window)
# Support Options
There are three types of support for Directus:
# Community Support
Because Directus is an open-source Project, you're encouraged to reach out to the Community for help on Projects, and of course help others as well. Find us on GitHub (opens new window) and Discord (opens new window) to join the thousands of other developers all discussing and guiding the future of the Directus platform. Most common questions have already been asked and answered and can be easily searched.
No Guaranteed Response Time
While the Directus Core Team plays an active and engaged role in community discussions and aims to answer questions within a few days, there is no guaranteed response time for Community Support.
# Basic and Premium Support
Basic and Premium Support offer direct communication with the Directus Core Team. Basic support is included on all Enterprise Projects, and Premium Support adds 24/7 response times for critical software issues only.
Add-on Support
Looking for Basic or Premium Support on a self-hosted Project? Contact Sales (opens new window)
# System Status
Click check in the Dashboard Header to navigate to the System Status page. This page is where to find out what happened in the super rare event that the network slows down or goes offline. Here you can view the current connectivity status of Directus Cloud, the status on individual Projects by URL and a daily Incidents log. For more information, see Cloud Policies (opens new window)
# Multi-tenancy
Tenancy refers to how client data is stored within a database. In single-tenancy architecture, a database stores data from only one tenant. In multi-tenancy architecture, a database stores data from multiple tenants, with mechanisms in place to protect data privacy. In the context of Directus Cloud, each Project represents a tenant.
Community
Community project databases are technically single-tenant, but also file-based, and therefore may be too limited on power
for a production-ready environment.
Standard
Standard Projects are created using a multi-tenant architecture. However, if your neighbor's Project gets busy, it will not
impact your Project, because each Standard Project is scoped to one container per Project with dedicated minimum resources.
Projects also have the ability to scale beyond this minimum allocation based on currently available resources within the
multitenant pool. However, these additional resources are not guaranteed and are offered on a dynamic first-come, first-serve
basis. For end-to-end, single-tenant infrastructure with fully dedicated resources, contact us about our Enterprise Tier (opens new window)
Enterprise
Databases on Enterprise Projects are single-tenant, 100% dedicated to your Project - no neighbors! Ready to upgrade to Enterprise?
Contact us (opens new window)
TIP
This section refers to how your Cloud Project is stored alongside other Cloud Projects and has nothing to do with how you design your Project's data model. You can implement single or multi-tenant architecture within any Directus Cloud Project.
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