Re: streamlined standby procedure

OK, this is news to me, I recall that last looking at the configuration
docs it was start-up time, but I might be wrong.

[looking up the docs]

OK, citing the 8.1 online docs:

17.5.3. Archiving

archive_command (string)

The shell command to execute to archive a completed segment of
the WAL file series. If this is an empty string (the default),
WAL archiving is disabled. Any %p in the string is replaced by
the absolute path of the file to archive, and any %f is replaced
by the file name only. Use %% to embed an actual % character in
the command. For more information see Section 23.3.1. This
option can only be set at server start or in the postgresql.conf
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
file.

It is important for the command to return a zero exit status if
and only if it succeeds. Examples:

archive_command = 'cp "%p" /mnt/server/archivedir/"%f"'
archive_command = 'copy "%p" /mnt/server/archivedir/"%f"' # Windows

It's at least confusing... it does say "or in the postgresql.conf file" too, but I must have overlooked that... and the "only" word is really confusing there.

[looking at: http://www.powerpostgresql.com/Downloads/annotated_conf_80.html]

OK, this is what confused me. The annotated conf file states it's a startup time parameter.

Well, good to know it's not...

Actually, my needs of PITR/standby building are mostly solved by now, but it's sure not an easy ride, and I really wonder if there is any readily available script bundle to do it for a windows server...

Maybe a standby-building-tutorial is all what is needed...

Cheers,
Csaba.

> Much of your difficulty seems to come from your thinking that this
> parameter requires a restart. It doesn't - check it out.
>
> The script need not be complex, you only need to put a wait loop in the
> restore script so that it waits for the next log file.
>
> Best Regards, Simon Riggs
>