RE: Running rsync backups in pg15

Thanks, Laurenz. I appreciate your explanation.

So, in the test case that Fujii sent, the server crashed during backup so it was safe to remove "backup_label".

However, in case of a completed exclusive backup, if you remove "backup_label" and then try to bring up server using
thesame backed up data as PGDATA, then you will have corrupted server. I get it. But I see this case as a user who is
deliberatelycorrupting the server. There are tons of scenarios to corrupt a database from outside postgres. Postgres
cannotbe responsible for these type of user introduced corruptions.
 

In my humble opinion with respect to all, if this is the only reason (removing "backup_label" thus introducing
corruption)for removing exclusive backups, I think it is an oversight by the Postgres Development Group approving this
change.


-----Original Message-----
From: Laurenz Albe <laurenz.albe@cybertec.at> 
Sent: Saturday, November 9, 2024 11:34 PM
To: Murthy Nunna <mnunna@fnal.gov>; Pgsql-admin <pgsql-admin@lists.postgresql.org>
Subject: Re: Running rsync backups in pg15

You would normally end up with data corruption or an error if you removed "backup_label"
from a properly taken backup.  Manually removing "backup_label" is dangerous.  It is safe to do if the server crashed
whilein exclusive backup mode, but it is detrimental anywhere else.
 

Yours,
Laurenz Albe