Re: the concept of a database cluster - Mailing list pgsql-docs

From David G. Johnston
Subject Re: the concept of a database cluster
Date
Msg-id CAKFQuwYgLTMZHyqEDO2ge=gx1deY70gSLvLVcmZWNToiZ+v3tQ@mail.gmail.com
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In response to the concept of a database cluster  (PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>)
Responses Re: the concept of a database cluster
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On Thursday, January 2, 2020, PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org> wrote:
The following documentation comment has been logged on the website:

Page: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/12/creating-cluster.html
Description:

In 18.2, a database cluster is said to be "a database storage area on disk",
and then shortly afterward is is defined as "a collection of databases that
is managed by a single instance of a running database server". Those seem
very different things. Sometimes in the manual I can't tell which usage is
intended.

A garage is a “car storage area for a house”. A garage can (typically) store multiple cars just as a database cluster can store multiple databases.  The files are only useful if there is a running instance and all databases stored in the cluster are managed by a single shared instance.  You will need to better explain your confusion because the documentation is describing a complex system accurately but in parts that are related - two sides of the same coin, if you will.

David J.

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