Re: Retore Postgres DB without dump

Thanks for all your advices, it worked perfectly.
I only had to build again postgres with the option : ./configure
--enable-integer-datetimes
due to the error:
"DETAIL:  The database cluster was initialized
without HAVE_INT64_TIMESTAMP but the server was compiled with
HAVE_INT64_TIMESTAMP.
I did a dump and restore the db in the new server.
Philippe

Shane Ambler wrote:
> Baudrion Philippe wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> I had a look at your last year archive without finding my solution,
>> but I suppose it's a common problem.
>> I am trying to restore an old database from their relations files, I
>> don't have any dump, is it possible and how ?
>
> Get the old version running again and perform the dump. Then restore
> to the new version.
>
>> System information:
>> Original - db: Postgres v.7.4, OS: Linux Mandriva 2006
>> Current - db: Postgres v.8.1.11, OS: Suse SLES10sp1
>
> The first question is whether the new server is amd64?
> If you are trying to open the old 32 bit server files on the new 64
> bit one this may be the issue.
>
> Are you trying to get 7.4 running on the old hardware/OS or the new
> hardware/OS?
>
> Or have you installed the new OS onto the same machine?
>
>> What I have tried is :
>> - To copy the files directly in an empyty db, I got a message like
>> this when trying to connect: "Error: wrong files version, these are
>> 7.4 files version and you are running 8.1"
>
> Minor updates (the third version digit) can read the same files, major
> upgrades (the first two digits) require a dump from the old version
> followed by a restore into the new version.
>
>> - So, I have build and installed a 7.4 version of Postgres
>> - Copy the files in an empty database
>> - Connection was ok, but "\dt" told me "no relations found".
>
> Exact copy of the entire data folder?
>
> Which 7.4.x? 7.4.19 is the latest and may have fixes that address this.
>
> If there is damage to the data files a few of the others here can help.
> You will want to be running 7.4.19 first.
>
>> What can I try next ?
>> I also have the original "pg_clog" and "pg_xlog" directories, and I
>> have also tried to replace them. What can I do with the WAL segments ?
>
> Start with a copy of the original files you backed up. Install the
> newest update for 7.4 and try pg_dumpall from there. You may also try
> using pg_dumpall 8.1.x (or 8.3) to dump from the 7.4 server.
>
> When you have a dump file that looks reasonable try restoring it into
> your new server.
>
> If this is an old and new server you can pipe the dump output to psql
> sending it straight to the new server.
>
>

--
Baudrion Philippe
Université de Genève - ETI
40, bd. du Pont d'Arve
1211 GENEVE 4

Tel : +41 22 379 94 95