Re: Using rsync for base backups for PITR

[Bruce Momjian <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us>]

Scott Whitney wrote:
> In the same way that you don't have a valid archive while the tar is
> running, no? In either case, I have to archive the WAL segments used during
> the file system backup, right?

Well, with the tar I assume you still have the old tar around.  This is
not true with the rsync update you suggested.

> Is rsync a supported method for a warm standby server? Specifically, I'm
> thinking about:
> http://www.taygeta.com/ha-postgresql.html 

Well, the standby is fine while the rsync is not runing, but while
syncing that backup has an inconsistent view of the database.  PITR
works only because the PITR logs fix up any consistencies.  The rsync is
not the same as a file system snapshot.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us>        http://momjian.us
  EnterpriseDB                             http://postgres.enterprisedb.com

  + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +