Re: PostgreSQL and Windows 2003 DFS Replication

Merlin Moncure wrote:
>> I am currently deploying two servers (Windows 2003 R2) that will
>> be used as file servers as well as PostgreSQL servers.
>>
>> One of the server will be the main server, the other one a backup
>> server (no load-balancing, only an easy-recoverage solution).
>> The goal is to be able to start working quickly after one of the
>> server fails (after the main server fails actually, since the
>> backup server is not used).
>>
>> I already configured a high-availability solution for the file
>> server part by using the built-in DFS Replication service.
>
> I am very suspicious about DFS for this.  File based replication
> usually doesn't work for sql servers because of the complex
> interdependencies in the files.  It sounds like a fancy rsync and is
> very unlikely to be able to guarantee consistent backup unless all
> writes are synchronous.

OK, I get your point.

> for a cold/warm standby postgresql backup, I'd suggest using pitr.
> It's easy to set up and administer. for hot read only backup, bite the
> bullet and use slony.

Warm backup is just fine for us. I'll check the pitr option !
Thanks for your advice !

Regards
--
Arnaud