Re: starting postgres with an empty px_xlog folder

I was able to duplicate the error in a test environment and get the database started back up wtih the pg_resetxlog $PGDATA command, but i am concerned about the fallout and not sure if i need to use any of the option switches.  We also have archived log files up to the point of server shutdown if that provides a better option.

On Sat, Jun 23, 2012 at 7:01 AM, Mike Broers <mbroers@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello, 

We shut down our postgres 8.3 server last night cleanly for some hosted services maintenance.  When we got our server back, it didnt have the pg_xlog mount with files and now when we start the server, it complains:

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18612]: [1-1] user=,db= LOG:  database system was shut down at 2012-06-22 23:56:16 CDT

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18612]: [3-1] user=,db= LOG:  invalid primary checkpoint record

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18612]: [4-1] user=,db= LOG:  could not open file "pg_xlog/0000000100000A0100000040" (log file 2561, segment 64): No such file or

 directory

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18612]: [5-1] user=,db= LOG:  invalid secondary checkpoint record

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18612]: [6-1] user=,db= PANIC:  could not locate a valid checkpoint record

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18609]: [1-1] user=,db= LOG:  startup process (PID 18612) was terminated by signal 6: Aborted

2012-06-23 06:06:04 CDT [18609]: [2-1] user=,db= LOG:  aborting startup due to startup process failure

Since we had a clean shut down is there an easy or relatively clean way to start back up?  the pg_xlog folder is there, just with no files.  i wouldnt think it would be needed for a clean restart.