.. _foreign_server_dialog:

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The Foreign Server Dialog
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Use the *Foreign Server* dialog to create a foreign server. A foreign server typically encapsulates connection information that a foreign-data wrapper uses to access an external data resource. Each foreign data wrapper may connect to a different foreign server; in the *pgAdmin* tree control, expand the node of the applicable foreign data wrapper to launch the *Foreign Server* dialog.

The *Foreign Server* dialog organizes the development of a foreign server through the following dialog tabs: *General*, *Definition*, *Options*, and *Security*. The *SQL* tab displays the SQL code generated by dialog selections.

.. image:: images/foreign_server_general.png
    :alt: Foreign server dialog general tab

Use the fields in the *General* tab to identify the foreign server:

* Use the *Name* field to add a descriptive name for the foreign server. The name will be displayed in the *pgAdmin* tree control. It must be unique within the database.
* Use the drop-down listbox next to *Owner* to select a role.
* Store notes about the foreign server in the *Comment* field.

Click the *Definition* tab to continue.

.. image:: images/foreign_server_definition.png
    :alt: Foreign server dialog definition tab

Use the fields in the *Definition* tab to set parameters:

* Use the *Type* field to specify a server type.
* Use the *Version* field to specify a server version.

Click the *Options* tab to continue.

.. image:: images/foreign_server_options.png
    :alt: Foreign server dialog options tab

Use the fields in the *Options* tab to specify options. Click the *Add* button to create an option clause for the foreign server.

* Specify the option name in the *Option* field.
* Provide a corresponding value in the *Value* field.

Click *Add* to create each additional clause; to discard an option, click the trash icon to the left of the row and confirm deletion in the *Delete Row* popup.

Click the *Security* tab to continue.

.. image:: images/foreign_server_security.png
    :alt: Foreign server dialog security tab

Use the *Security* tab to assign security privileges to the foreign server. Click *Add* before you assign a set of privileges.

* Select the name of the role from the drop-down listbox in the *Grantee* field.
* Click inside the *Privileges* field. Check the boxes to the left of one or more privileges to grant the selected privileges to the specified user.
* Select the name of the role from the drop-down listbox in the *Grantor* field. The default grantor is the owner of the foreign server. This is a required field.

Click *Add* to assign a new set of privileges; to discard a privilege, click the trash icon to the left of the row and confirm deletion in the *Delete Row* dialog.

Click the *SQL* tab to continue.

Your entries in the *Foreign Server* dialog generate a SQL command (see an example below). Use the *SQL* tab for review; revisit or switch tabs to make any changes to the SQL command.

**Example**

The following is an example of the sql command generated by user selections in the *Foreign Server* dialog:

.. image:: images/foreign_server_sql.png
    :alt: Foreign server dialog sql tab

The example shown demonstrates creating a foreign server for the foreign data wrapper *hdfs_fdw*. It has the name *hdfs_server*; its type is *hiveserver2*. Options for the foreign server include a host and a port.

* Click the *Info* button (i) to access online help. View context-sensitive help in the *Tabbed browser*, where a new tab displays the PostgreSQL core documentation.
* Click the *Save* button to save work.
* Click the *Cancel* button to exit without saving work.
* Click the *Reset* button to restore configuration parameters.
