status applications

Are there any status and mode applications for postgres? I mean, an 
application that will tell me the status of the server at the moment,  and an 
app to start and stop postgres.
Does postgres have "administration mode" like a mode to make backups on, 
without threads connected?

Thanks!!!

-- 
"And I'm happy, because you make me feel good, about me." - Melvin Udall
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Martín Marqués            email:     martin@math.unl.edu.ar
Santa Fe - Argentina        http://math.unl.edu.ar/~martin/
Administrador de sistemas en math.unl.edu.ar
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