Re: Is pg_basebackup also for "regular" backups?

On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 11:28 PM, John R Pierce <pierce@hogranch.com> wrote:
> On 10/15/12 2:06 PM, Daniel Serodio (lists) wrote:
>>
>> I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by "based off PITR". Do I need
>> PITR enabled in order to use pg_basebackup, or do you mean that I won't lose
>> the ability to use PITR after restoring from a backup created with
>> pg_basebackup, or do you mean something else?
>
>
>
> PITR is a recovery technique, allows you to restore the database to an
> arbitrary point in time, not neccessarily the latest (so, for instance, you
> can recover to just before your overzealous assistant adminstrator made a
> total mess of your accounting system).
>
> to utilize PITR, you need A) a base backup, and B) *all* the WAL archives
> since that base backup was taken up to the point at which you wish to
> recover.

You can also use pg_basebackup in -x mode in which case you don't need
a WAL archive - the required WAL will be included in the base backup.
This will not allow PITR though, but it will use the PITR technology
to do a one-off backup.

--
 Magnus Hagander
 Me: http://www.hagander.net/
 Work: http://www.redpill-linpro.com/