Re: pgsql data file location - Mailing list pgsql-general

pg_dumpall or pg_dump can dump data in multiple formats .

By defualt they dump to SQL script files in text format.
suppose you dump using the command

$ pg_dumpall > dump.sql

you can restore it as follows:

$ psql -U<username>  template1 -f dump.sql

if you dump in custom format using -Fc option ie

$ pg_dumpall -Fc  > dump.dat

you must use pg_restore and pipe the results to postgresql using psql

eg

$ pg_restore dump.dat | psql -U<username>  template1

also if you are just wanting to quickly transfer the installation from
one machine to another  and postgresql version remaining the same
you can directly copy the files this is how it can be done .

>SHUTDOWN postmaster
2. cd /usr/local/pgsql/data  or whatever applicable.
3.  tar -cvf data.tar  *

4. ftp data.tar to another machine.

in another machine:
assuming same version of pgsql is installed

>SHUTDOWN  postmaster if its running

5. cd /usr/local/pgsql
6. rename data folder , mv data data-bak
7. mkdir data
8. chown postgres: data
9. cd data
8. tar -xvf /path/to/data.tar

start postmaster.


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> Thank you.This is very helpful. Webmin has a backup/restore function but it does not work.I
> just tested the dumpall command and it seems to work. How about restore function?
>
> Regards
>
> Ismaila Kane
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: mallah@trade-india.com [mailto:mallah@trade-india.com]
>     Sent: Fri 4/11/2003 2:17 PM
>     To: Ismaila Kane
>     Cc: pgsql-general@postgresql.com
>     Subject: Re: [GENERAL] pgsql data file location
>
>
>
>
>     Dear Kane,
>
>     you are rite it does not say explicitly the location of data file .

>     But if you are wanting to know it for backup purposes reasons you are
 in the wrong
>     direction.
>
>     The only way to make safe/consistent backups in postgresql is to use
 pg_dump or pg_dumpall.
>
>     If you are just curious about the location, it is either passed to postmaster
 by -D option or
>     by environment PGDATA. for typical tar ball installs it is
 /usr/local/pgsql/data/ in RPM
>     based it is /var/lib/pgsql/data
>
>     under data folder there exists a folder "base" , under "base" one  folder per database.
 these
>     folders have names correspoding to internal ids in system catalogs.
 under these numeric
>     folder there are files for individual tables and indexes.

>     but do not copy these files and folder thinking that you are "backing up"
 it will be futile ,
>     as said pg_dump/all is the only way of backing up.

>     Regds
>     Mallah.
>
>
>
>
>
>     > Yes I read the manual but does not say where the location of the data file is?
 -----
>     > Original Message -----
>     > From: <mallah@trade-india.com>
>     > To: <ikane@ciscolabs.net>
>     > Cc: <pgsql-general@postgresql.org>
>     > Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 4:14 AM
>     > Subject: Re: [GENERAL] pgsql data file location
>     >
>     >
>     >>
>     >> All that is possible.
>     >> I you have not read the Admin Docs yet.
>     >>
>     >> Regds
>     >> mallah.
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> > I am trying to find where psql reads the data from when a table is
>     > created. Also is it possible
>     >> > to copy that data and transfer it onto another system running psql. If
>     > not does anyone know a
>     >> > good psql backup solution.
>     >> >
>     >> > Thanks
>     >> >
>     >> > ismaila Kane
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> -----------------------------------------
>     >> Get your free web based email at trade-india.com.
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>
>
>
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>
>
>
>



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