diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 1f0ad78..6a83c08 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-CLOUDBEAVER_VERSION_TAG=25.3.0
+CLOUDBEAVER_VERSION_TAG=26.0.0
 IMAGE_SOURCE=dbeaver
 PODMAN_IMAGE_SOURCE=docker.io/dbeaver
 COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME=dbeaver
@@ -7,13 +7,22 @@ CLOUDBEAVER_WEB_SERVER_PORT=8978
 # Type of web server. Supported values: nginx, haproxy
 PROXY_TYPE=nginx
 
+# Supported db drivers:
+# - for postgresql use 'postgres-jdbc' driver.
+# - for mysql or mariadb use 'mariaDB' driver.
+# - for oracle use 'oracle_thin' driver.
+# - for sql server use 'microsoft' driver.
+
 CLOUDBEAVER_DB_DRIVER=postgres-jdbc
 CLOUDBEAVER_DB_URL=jdbc:postgresql://postgres:5432/cloudbeaver
 CLOUDBEAVER_DB_USER=postgres
-CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD=StR0NgP@sSw0rd
+CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD=
 CLOUDBEAVER_DB_SCHEMA=cb
 CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_DRIVER=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_DRIVER}
 CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_URL=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_URL}
 CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_USER=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_USER}
 CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD}
 CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA=qm
+
+# Java tool options for JVM configuration
+JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS=
diff --git a/AWS/ecs-fargate/README.md b/AWS/ecs-fargate/README.md
index f1e1da5..e9f8931 100644
--- a/AWS/ecs-fargate/README.md
+++ b/AWS/ecs-fargate/README.md
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@
       - Copy `variables.tf.example` to `variables.tf`
       - Open `variables.tf` file.  
       - Specify `rds_db_version`, the default is `postgres:16.1`. Only PostgreSQL version can be specified.  
-      - Set the credentials for database in `cloudbeaver-db-env`. By default it is `postgres`.  
-
+      - You must set the database password in `cloudbeaver-db-env`. The password is empty by default and the service will not start without it.  
 5. Configure the deployment in `variables.tf` file as follows:  
    - Set your `aws_account_id`, you can get it by logging into your AWS console:
 
@@ -33,8 +32,8 @@
 
    ![alt text](images/image-1.png)
 
-   - Ensure that the `alb_certificate_Identifier` variable contains the ID from [AWS Certificate Manager](#importing-an-ssl-certificate-in-aws) corresponding to the domain name specified   in the `CLOUDBEAVER_PUBLIC_URL` variable within variables.tf. The domain name in `CLOUDBEAVER_PUBLIC_URL` must match the domain for which the certificates have been issued.
-   - You can customize the deployment version by updating the `cloudbeaver_version` environment variable. The default version is `25.2.0`.
+   - Ensure that the `alb_certificate_Identifier` variable contains the ID from [AWS Certificate Manager](#importing-an-ssl-certificate-in-aws) corresponding to your domain name. The domain name must match the domain for which the certificates have been issued.
+   - You can customize the deployment version by updating the `cloudbeaver_version` environment variable.
 
 6. Run `terraform init` and then `terraform apply` in `ecs-fargate` directory to create the ECS cluster and complete the deployment.
 
diff --git a/AWS/ecs-fargate/variables.tf.example b/AWS/ecs-fargate/variables.tf.example
index 6b2810a..dea7c15 100644
--- a/AWS/ecs-fargate/variables.tf.example
+++ b/AWS/ecs-fargate/variables.tf.example
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ variable "cloudbeaver_image_name" {
 variable "cloudbeaver_version" {
   description = "The version of the cluster you want to deploy"
   type = string
-  default = "25.3.0"
+  default = "26.0.0"
 }
 
 variable "alb_certificate_Identifier" {
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ variable "cloudbeaver-env" {
   },
   {
       "name": "CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD",
-      "value": "StR0NgP2s"
+      "value": ""
   },
   {
       "name": "CLOUDBEAVER_DB_SCHEMA",
@@ -107,15 +107,11 @@ variable "cloudbeaver-env" {
   },
   {
       "name": "CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD",
-      "value": "StR0NgP2s"
+      "value": ""
   },
   {
       "name": "CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA",
       "value": "qm"
-  },
-  {
-      "name": "CLOUDBEAVER_PUBLIC_URL",
-      "value": "test-domain-name.databases.team"
   }]
 }
 
@@ -136,7 +132,7 @@ variable "cloudbeaver-db-env" {
   # type = map(string)
   default = [
     { "name": "POSTGRES_PASSWORD",
-     "value": "postgres"},
+     "value": ""},
     { "name": "POSTGRES_USER",
      "value": "postgres"},
     { "name": "POSTGRES_DB",
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c1052c4..233326d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # CloudBeaver Enterprise deployment
 
-### Version 25.3
+### Version 26.0
 
 CloudBeaver Enterprise is a client-server application.
 It requires server deployment. You can deploy it in several ways:
@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@ environment:
 ```
 This step is only required for Nginx, as HAProxy resolves service names via Docker DNS automatically.
 
+#### Java tool options
+
+Java does not read system environment variables. To pass Java parameters to the Java process, use the `JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS` variable in your `.env` file.
+
+Example for proxy configuration:
+```
+JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS="-Dhttp.proxy.host=<proxyname> -Dhttps.proxy.host=<proxyname> -Dhttp.proxy.port=<port> -Dhttps.proxy.port=<port>"
+```
+
 ### Configuring and starting the CloudBeaver cluster
 1. Clone repository
    ```sh
@@ -62,7 +71,7 @@ This step is only required for Nginx, as HAProxy resolves service names via Dock
     - Navigate to `cloudbeaver-deploy`
     - Copy `.env.example` to `.env`
     - Edit the `.env` file to set configuration properties
-    - It is highly recommended to change the default database password in `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD` variable
+    - You must set the `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD` variable before starting the cluster. The database password is empty by default and the service will not start without it.
 3. Start the cluster
     - `docker-compose up -d` or `docker compose up -d`
 4. Ensure the following TCP ports are available in your network stack
@@ -73,6 +82,61 @@ This step is only required for Nginx, as HAProxy resolves service names via Dock
 ### Stopping the cluster
 `docker-compose down`
 
+### Using external database
+
+By default, CloudBeaver stores all data in an internal PostgreSQL database. If you want to use it, skip this step.
+
+If you want to use another database, you can configure it by editing the `.env` file:
+
+1. Change `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_DRIVER` to driver for a database you want to use, for example: `postgres-jdbc`/`mariaDB`/`oracle_thin`/`microsoft`
+2. Change `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_URL` to the JDBC connection URL for your database.
+3. Set `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_USER` and `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD` with your database credentials.
+
+#### Configure PostgreSQL database
+
+Connect to your Postgres database and run:
+```
+CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS cb;
+```
+
+#### Configure MySQL/MariaDB database
+
+**Note:** The MySQL driver is not included by default. To use MySQL as an internal database, connect using the MariaDB driver.
+
+Connect to your MariaDB or MySQL database and run:
+```
+CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS cb;
+```
+
+You might need to add additional parameters to the `CLOUDBEAVER_DB_URL`:
+
+- `allowPublicKeyRetrieval=true` — to allow the client to automatically request the public key from the server.
+- `autoReconnect=true` — to prevent the connection from closing after 8 hours of inactivity.
+
+##### Example:
+
+`CLOUDBEAVER_DB_URL=jdbc:mariadb://127.0.0.1:3306/cloudbeaver?autoReconnect=true&allowPublicKeyRetrieval=true`
+
+#### Configure Oracle database
+
+Connect to your Oracle database and run:
+```
+CREATE USER CB;
+GRANT UNLIMITED TABLESPACE TO CB;
+```
+
+#### Configure SQL Server database
+
+Connect to your SQL Server database and run:
+```
+CREATE DATABASE cloudbeaver;
+```
+
+##### Example:
+
+`CLOUDBEAVER_DB_DRIVER=microsoft`  
+`CLOUDBEAVER_DB_URL=jdbc:sqlserver://127.0.0.1:1433;databaseName=cloudbeaver`
+
 ### Configuring SSL (HTTPS)
 
 There are two ways to configure SSL:
@@ -156,6 +220,7 @@ Previously, the volumes were owned by the ‘root’ user, but now they’re own
 ## Older versions
 
 ### Older versions:
+- [25.3.0](https://github.com/dbeaver/cloudbeaver-deploy/tree/25.3.0)
 - [25.2.0](https://github.com/dbeaver/cloudbeaver-deploy/tree/25.2.0)
 - [25.1.0](https://github.com/dbeaver/cloudbeaver-deploy/tree/25.1.0)
 - [25.0.0](https://github.com/dbeaver/cloudbeaver-deploy/tree/25.0.0)
diff --git a/docker-compose-host.yml b/docker-compose-host.yml
index cf3e6a6..c1e5652 100644
--- a/docker-compose-host.yml
+++ b/docker-compose-host.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ services:
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD}
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA}
       - CLOUDBEAVER_DMSVC_URL=http://127.0.0.1:11000
+      - NETWORK_MODE=host
+      - JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS=${JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS:-}
     depends_on:
       - postgres
 
@@ -55,8 +57,8 @@ services:
     image: ${IMAGE_SOURCE:-dbeaver}/cloudbeaver-postgres:16
     volumes:
       - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
-      - ./cloudbeaver-db-init.sql:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/cb-init.sql
     environment:
       - POSTGRES_DB=cloudbeaver
       - POSTGRES_USER=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_USER}
       - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_PASSWORD}
+      - NETWORK_MODE=host
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 375bfcc..1a8b8a0 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ services:
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_USER=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_USER}
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD}
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA}
+      - JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS=${JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS:-}
     expose:
       - ${CLOUDBEAVER_WEB_SERVER_PORT:-8978}
     depends_on:
diff --git a/k8s/Chart.yaml b/k8s/Chart.yaml
index 07f2e25..7bb90e8 100644
--- a/k8s/Chart.yaml
+++ b/k8s/Chart.yaml
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ name: cb
 description: A Helm chart for CloudBeaver application
 type: application
 version: 0.0.1
-appVersion: 25.3.0
+appVersion: 26.0.0
diff --git a/k8s/README.md b/k8s/README.md
index e5364a7..d5bedf1 100644
--- a/k8s/README.md
+++ b/k8s/README.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Previously, the volumes were owned by the ‘root’ user, but now they are owne
 - `cd cloudbeaver-deploy/k8s`
 - `cp ./values.yaml.example ./values.yaml`
 - Edit chart values in `values.yaml` (use any text editor)
+- You must set the `cloudbeaver_db_password` variable before deploying the cluster. The database password is empty by default and the deployment will fail without it.
 - Configure domain and SSL certificate (optional)
   - Add an A record in your DNS hosting for a value of `cloudbeaverBaseDomain` variable with load balancer IP address.
   - If you set the *HTTPS* endpoint scheme, then create a valid TLS certificate for the domain endpoint `cloudbeaverBaseDomain` and place it into `k8s/ingressSsl`:  
diff --git a/k8s/templates/secrets/db-passwords.yaml b/k8s/templates/secrets/db-passwords.yaml
index 3408e47..f02f0b3 100644
--- a/k8s/templates/secrets/db-passwords.yaml
+++ b/k8s/templates/secrets/db-passwords.yaml
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@
   {{- fail "Error: backend.cloudbeaver_db_password is missing or empty" }}
 {{- end }}
 
-{{- if eq .Values.backend.cloudbeaver_db_password "StR0NgP2sSw0rD" }}
-  {{- fail "Error: Default password 'StR0NgP2sSw0rD' is insecure! Please change it before deployment." }}
-{{- end }}
-
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
diff --git a/k8s/values.yaml.example b/k8s/values.yaml.example
index dc8ec47..c45b148 100644
--- a/k8s/values.yaml.example
+++ b/k8s/values.yaml.example
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 cloudbeaver:
   replicaCount: 1
   image: dbeaver/cloudbeaver-ee
-  imageTag: "25.3.0"
+  imageTag: "26.0.0"
   pullPolicy: Always
   # pullCredsName - name of a secret config map that contains docker repo auths
   # pullCredsName: regcred
@@ -51,4 +51,4 @@ backend:
   cloudbeaver_db_driver: postgres-jdbc
   cloudbeaver_db_url: jdbc:postgresql://postgres:5432/cloudbeaver
   cloudbeaver_db_user: postgres
-  cloudbeaver_db_password: StR0NgP2sSw0rD
+  cloudbeaver_db_password: ""
diff --git a/podman-compose.yml b/podman-compose.yml
index f4cc597..639fb95 100644
--- a/podman-compose.yml
+++ b/podman-compose.yml
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ services:
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_USER=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_USER}
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_PASSWORD}
       - CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA=${CLOUDBEAVER_QM_DB_SCHEMA}
+      - JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS=${JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS:-}
     expose:
       - ${CLOUDBEAVER_WEB_SERVER_PORT:-8978}
     depends_on:
@@ -65,7 +66,6 @@ services:
     image: ${PODMAN_IMAGE_SOURCE:-docker.io/dbeaver}/cloudbeaver-postgres:16
     volumes:
       - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data:z
-      - ./cloudbeaver-db-init.sql:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/cb-init.sql:z
     environment:
       - POSTGRES_DB=cloudbeaver
       - POSTGRES_USER=${CLOUDBEAVER_DB_USER}