Odyssey

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

What Odyssey is

Odyssey is a free, open-source PostgreSQL connection pooler and request router for self-hosted deployments. It supports session pooling and transaction pooling, with transaction mode intended for stateless workloads and unable to preserve session state between transactions. Prepared statements can work in transaction pooling when pool_reserve_prepared_statement is enabled. Separate pools can be configured for each database and user, including authentication, pooling mode, and limits. Odyssey distributes connections or requests across PostgreSQL servers using configured priorities, while target session attributes support read-write or read-only routing. A catchup timeout can drop hosts whose replication lag exceeds a threshold. Documentation covers SSL/TLS, md5, clear-text, PAM, and LDAP authentication. Its administration console accepts PostgreSQL client connections and provides commands and metrics. A Prometheus exporter exposes metrics at /metrics, although the maker says it is in development. Packages, Docker images, and local builds are documented.

Who it suits

Odyssey suits teams running PostgreSQL themselves that need pooling, routing, authentication controls, and replication-aware host selection. It is intended for Linux-based deployments and PostgreSQL environments.

What it does well

Session and transaction pooling
Per-database and per-user pool settings
Read-write and read-only routing
Replication-lag catchup timeout
Prometheus metrics exporter

What to know first

Local builds run only on Linux
Supports x86 and x86_64 local builds
Prometheus exporter is still in development
Docker quick-start supports versions starting at 1.5.0

Limits

Transaction pooling does not retain session state between transactions. The quick-start documentation supports only Docker image versions beginning with 1.5.0, and the Prometheus exporter is still described as in development.

Getting started

Install a package from the PGDG repository
Run a public Docker image
Build a Docker image
Build Odyssey locally on supported Linux hardware
Configure pools for each database and user
Connect through the administration console

Verdict

Odyssey provides configurable PostgreSQL pooling and routing with authentication, monitoring, and online-restart capabilities. Linux architecture limits, the exporter’s development status, and the documented Docker version requirement should shape deployment planning.

Questions

Is Odyssey free?

Yes. Odyssey is free and open source.

Which database does Odyssey support?

Odyssey supports PostgreSQL.

Which platforms are supported?

The listed platforms are Linux, macOS, and self-hosted deployment. Local builds are documented only for Linux on x86 and x86_64.

Does Odyssey support read and write routing?

Yes. Target session attributes can route connections to PostgreSQL hosts according to read-write or read-only needs.

How can Odyssey metrics be monitored?

A Go-based Prometheus exporter connects to the Odyssey console and exposes metrics at a `/metrics` HTTP endpoint.

Facts from Odyssey's own pages

Administration: Its administration console accepts PostgreSQL client connections and provides administrative commands and metrics or statistics. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Authentication: Odyssey supports SSL/TLS, md5 and clear-text authentication, and PAM and LDAP authentication. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Authentication and encryption: The documentation describes SSL/TLS support, md5 and clear-text authentication, and PAM and LDAP authentication. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Connection pools: Pools can be configured separately for each database and user, including authentication, pooling mode, and limits. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Deployment: Odyssey can be installed from the PGDG repository, run from a public Docker image, or built locally. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Distribution: The project documents Debian and Ubuntu packages from PGDG, public Docker images, Docker builds, and local builds. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Exporter maturity: The maker describes the Prometheus exporter as being in development and directs users with problems to contact the project. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
License: The maker's license page permits redistribution and use of source and binary forms, subject to its listed conditions and disclaimer. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Load balancing: Odyssey distributes connections or requests among multiple PostgreSQL servers and selects hosts using configured priorities. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Maintainer: The documentation credits YANDEX LLC and says it is maintained by the Yandex Cloud MDB team. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Monitoring: Odyssey metrics can be exposed in Prometheus format using an exporter that connects to the Odyssey console. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Monitoring integration: A Go-based Prometheus exporter connects to the Odyssey console and exposes metrics at a /metrics HTTP endpoint. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Online restart: Odyssey supports online restart using two instances so the existing instance serves current connections while the second accepts new ones. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Platform limit: The local-build documentation says Odyssey runs only on Linux and supports x86 and x86_64. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Platform limitation: The maker says local builds run only on Linux and support x86 and x86_64. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Pool configuration: Separate pools can be configured for each database and user pair, with individual authentication, pooling mode and limits. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Pooling modes: Odyssey supports session pooling and transaction pooling, with transaction pooling suited to stateless workloads but not preserving session state between transactions. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Prepared statements: Prepared statements can be used with transaction pooling when pool_reserve_prepared_statement is enabled. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Production use: The maker says Odyssey is production-ready and used in large production setups. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Odyssey is an advanced, multithreaded PostgreSQL connection pooler and request router. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Read/write routing: Target session attributes can route connections to PostgreSQL hosts according to read-write or read-only requirements. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Replication lag: The catchup timeout feature can drop connections to PostgreSQL hosts whose replication lag exceeds a configured threshold. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Support: Users can report issues on the project page or ask usage and development questions in the Telegram community; the project says responses may not be quick. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026
Version limitation: The quick-start page says only Docker image versions starting with 1.5.0 are supported. · pg-odyssey.tech, 4 Oct 2026

Where Odyssey stands on Freedom251

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