Re: database files

> On 22/10/2003 20:41 Gail Zacharias wrote:
>
>> I am investigating the possibility of using pgsql as the database in an
>> application.  I have some unusual requirements that I'd like to ask you
>> all about.  I apologize in advance if my terminology is a little "off",
>> I'm not familiar with pgsql (yet).
>>
>> I need to be able to move the database files, as normal user-visible
>> files, between machines. I.e. given a database on machine A, I want to be
>> able to copy either a single file (ideally) or a single directory (less
>> ideal but still ok) to, say, a zip drive, bring it over to another
>> machine (with pgsql also installed), start up my application and have it
>> access the copied database through pgsql.
>>
>> Is this sort of thing possible?  Is a database stored in a single file or
>> multiple files?  Can the location of the file(s) be controlled?  Are the
>> files accessible and consistent while pgsql is running? I assume not all
>> the time, but is there a reliable way to make them accessible (i.e.
>> copyable) and consistent short of shutting down pgsql?

Couldn't one ...
export PGDATA2 = /usr/local/database
create the original database in the PGDATA2
and then when you want to copy it, stop postgres,
recursively copy the database directory, start postgres.

On new machine...
export PGDATA2 = /usr/local/database
copy original database to new machine
start postrges

Would not postgres be able to connect to this
copied database on the new machine?