Re: TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster

Doug McNaught wrote:
> Jeff Davis <list-pgsql-general@dynworks.com> writes:
>
> > TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster
> >
> > My impression of 7.2 (and probably earlier releases as well) is that you're
> > data is secure as long as your disks can read/write properly, because of all
> > the WAL work. I would like to think that my databases would be in good shape
> > even in the event of a power failure or a 'kill -9'. Is this the case? Under
> > what known circumstances might data be corrupted? I am mostly concerned with
> > 7.2, since I plan to upgrade all of my servers anyway, but info about 7.1.x
> > would be helpful.
>
> WAL does seem to have made things pretty robust.
>
> The tip is directed at those people for whom 'kill -9' is the first
> resort, not the last.  ;) Clean shutdown is *always* better than
> unclean if you can manage it.

Yes, I believe that is the point.  No reason to yank things out from
under the system. Also, I believe a clean shutdown may cause you to lose
fewer transactions because it gives things a little time to settle down
before stopping.

--
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