RE: Backing up postgresql databases

Peter,

From what I understand (and I'm still fairly new to Postgres) you won't get
a perfect copy while Postmaster is running, but there is a way to backup the
entire database while it's running: pg_dumpall.

pg_dumpall by default is in the /usr/bin directory, and they usage is
simple: /usr/bin/pg_dumpall > filename - this will create a backup that
restores using SQL statements.

regards,
-John

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-admin-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org
[mailto:pgsql-admin-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org]On Behalf Of Peter Schuller
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 9:39 PM
To: pgsql-admin(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: [ADMIN] Backing up postgresql databases

Hello,

How do people normally backup up postgresql databases? The obviously safe
solution is to shut down the database during backup, but is Postgresql
storage such that it's safe to backup a running DB? I.e., is the database
guaranteed to be in a consistent state after restoration?

I'm talking a standard backup procedure now; say a tar -czvf. So that
assuming certain procedures during storage, it should be possible to
guarantee this (although it wouldn't be easy). The questions is,
does Postgresql do that? I'm sceptical :)

Thanks!

--
/ Peter Schuller, InfiDyne Technologies HB

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