Re: Seeking information about backup/recovery

From: Bruce Momjian <pgman(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us>
To: Mary Edie Meredith <maryedie(at)osdl(dot)org>
Cc: pgsql-admin(at)postgresql(dot)org, osdldbt-general <osdldbt-general(at)lists(dot)sourceforge(dot)net>
Subject: Re: Seeking information about backup/recovery
Date: 2003-09-04 18:15:52
Message-ID: 200309041815.h84IFqv05064@candle.pha.pa.us
Views: Raw Message | Whole Thread | Download mbox | Resend email
Thread:
Lists: pgsql-admin


Right. We need point-in-time-recovery. Someone is working on it and we
hope to have it for 7.5.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mary Edie Meredith wrote:
> Dear PostgreSQL admin'ers,
>
>
> Our group at OSDL have been porting our DBT test kits to PostgreSQL.
> In getting up to speed on PostgreSQL, we have not found a way to recover
> from a serious database failure (disk corruption, disk/volume failure).
>
> The following scenario described in the 7.3 docs and the "PostgreSQL
> 7.4devel Documentation" is exactly what we are looking for:
>
>
> "WAL offers the opportunity for a new method for database on-line backup
> and restore (BAR). To use this method, one would have to make periodic
> saves of data files to another disk, a tape or another host and also
> archive the WAL log files. The database file copy and the archived log
> files could be used to restore just as if one were restoring after a
> crash. Each time a new database file copy was made the old log files
> could be removed. Implementing this facility will require the logging of
> data file and index creation and deletion; it will also require
> development of a method for copying the data files (operating system
> copy commands are not suitable). "
>
> Since it states that WAL, "offers the opportunity" for what we need, we
> concluded this is _not supported at 7.3 and the 7.4 beta releases.
>
> Is this conclusion correct?
>
> Of course we would like to do even more - point in time recovery,
> incremental backup, but for now just the basics.
>
> Point in Time recovery is listed as "Urgent" on the TODO list,
> incremental backups are listed under "Admin", so it appears that those
> items are recognized as important. What we cannot understand is why the
> basic backup/restore described above is not on the TODO list.
>
> Can anyone enlighten us?
>
>
>
> --
> Mary Edie Meredith <maryedie(at)osdl(dot)org>
> Open Source Development Lab
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 7: don't forget to increase your free space map settings
>

--
Bruce Momjian | http://candle.pha.pa.us
pgman(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us | (610) 359-1001
+ If your life is a hard drive, | 13 Roberts Road
+ Christ can be your backup. | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073

In response to

Responses

Browse pgsql-admin by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message Marc G. Fournier 2003-09-04 18:38:28 Re: YOUR SITES SEARCH FEATURE DOES NOT WORK!
Previous Message Tom Lane 2003-09-04 17:37:56 Re: Log error at server startup