Re: Clarification of documentation detail for upgrading minor version

On 1/23/20 3:28 AM, Phil Fisher wrote:
> Hello
>
> I have a 9.6.6 system that misses some features. It is installed on a
> RHEL7 OS. Reading the 9.6 documentation to upgrade I find the
> following:
>
> "
>
> 18.6. Upgrading a PostgreSQL Cluster
>
> This section discusses how to upgrade your database data from one
> PostgreSQL release to a newer one.
>
> PostgreSQL major versions are represented by the first two digit
> groups of the version number, e.g., 8.4. PostgreSQL minor versions are
> represented by the third group of version digits, e.g., 8.4.2 is the
> second minor release of 8.4. Minor releases never change the internal
> storage format and are always compatible with earlier and later minor
> releases of the same major version number, e.g., 8.4.2 is compatible
> with 8.4, 8.4.1 and 8.4.6. To update between compatible versions, you
> simply replace the executables while the server is down and restart
> the server. The data directory remains unchanged — minor upgrades are
> that simple."
>
> Can someone please clarify what actions should be taken for this (see
> penultimate sentence)? If I install (yum upgrade for example) then I
> believe all updated files will be updated and that does not seem to be
> the message in the above. While I can install to a different area
> (and since I will be using the PGDG repo it WILL be different) I could

Are you currently using the PGDG repos?

If so then the files will be installed in the same locations. They will
just be the new versions.

> do this and manually copy the 'bin' directory. However, I would have
> expected to have to copy the 'libs' directory as well and perhaps
> others (excluding doc etc.). I will be moving to a 9.6.16 version so
> that seems to comply with the restrictions mentioned in the
> documentation (and for the avoidance of good people saying use a later
> version and do a major upgrade that is not currently
> possible/feasible).
>
> Grateful for any detailed advice on the correct path for the above.
> Thanks.
>

--
Adrian Klaver
adrian(dot)klaver(at)aklaver(dot)com