Re: [pgsql-hackers-win32] Tablespaces

> "Zeugswetter Andreas SB SD" <ZeugswetterA@spardat.at> writes:
>>>> My feeling is that we need not support tablespaces on OS's without
>>>> symlinks.
>
>> To create symlinked directories on Win2k NTFS see:
>>     http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/misc.shtml#junction
>> I think Win2000 or XP would be a reasonable restriction for Win32 PG
>> installations that want tablespaces.
>
> Oh, good --- symlinks for directories are all that we need for this
> design.  I think that settles it then.
>

What archival tools are there that would restore this to this back to the
filesystem: tar? zip?  What would happen if a symlink were removed or
pointed to an invalid location while the postmaste was running?

I think the catalog approach would future proof yourself; think about the
possibility of new filesystems, table storage mechanisms, or devices.
There may be a raw disk system in the future.  With that you could point
to a block device instead of a filesystem directory.  Symlinks seem like a
simple solution but will it be complete enough?   A meta file or catalog
entry could store more than just the location of the tablespace: max/min
space allocation, vacuum frequencies, storage type (maybe in-place
updates), locking schemes (in case someome had a wild hair to customize
NFS operations).

That meta/configuration file with a summary or one that is generated for a
summary could be useful.

I just can't help but state that "I've got a bad feeling about this."