Dear PostgreSQL Community,
I am currently planning a major version upgrade from PostgreSQL 16 to PostgreSQL 17. I have three node patroni cluster. While I am aware that logical replication is the standard approach for cross-version migrations, I am curious about the feasibility of physical streaming replication in this specific scenario.
Specifically, I would like to clarify:
- Is physical streaming replication backward compatible between these two major versions?
- Since many data files remain consistent between versions, is there any supported method to leverage physical block-level replication to minimize the initial data synchronization time before a cutover?
I understand that WAL formats and system catalogs typically change between major releases, but I wanted to confirm if there are any modern workarounds or "late-binding" techniques available in the v17 ecosystem.
Thank you for your time and expertise.
Best regards,
