Andreas Pflug <pgadmin(at)pse-consulting(dot)de> writes:
> To clarify:
> I'd expect a cluster to be workable, if I
> - disable VACUUM until backup completed
> - issue CHECKPOINT
> - backup clog (CHECKPOINT and backup clog are the "backup checkpoint")
> - backup all datafiles (which include at least all completed transaction
> data at checkpoint time)
> and then
> - restore datafiles and clog
> - bring up pgsql.
Why is that a useful approach? You might as well shut down the
postmaster and do a cold filesystem backup, because you are depending on
the data files (including clog) not to change after the checkpoint. You
cannot make such an assumption in a running database.
Preventing VACUUM does not help btw.
regards, tom lane