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Thread: Can't get postmaster to restart after removing WAL files

Can't get postmaster to restart after removing WAL files

From
"Nick Fankhauser"
Date:
Hi all-

I caused a crash by filling up the filesystem that pg_xlog lives on whilst
doing a vacuum analyze. When I looked at the remains, there were 3 WAL files
out there & no space left.

I tried simply restarting (/etc/init.d/postgresql start) in the hopes that
the mess would get cleaned, but with no luck. The startup script reported
success, but no postmaster was running.

I tried removing the WAL files & restarting again with the same results- the
startup script reports success, but postmaster isn't running.

I'm not worried about the data- this is on a demo system, so I can
regenerate it quickly, but I can't even get the postmaster started so I can
begin the restore. I guess I've learned that removing a WAL file is a Bad
Idea (tm)... but now I need a good idea to get me back to the starting
point.

Any ideas?

TIA-

-Nick

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Fankhauser

    nickf@doxpop.com  Phone 1.765.965.7363  Fax 1.765.962.9788
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Re: Can't get postmaster to restart after removing WAL files

From
GB Clark II
Date:
On Tuesday 11 September 2001 06:04, Nick Fankhauser wrote:
> Hi all-
>
> I caused a crash by filling up the filesystem that pg_xlog lives on whilst
> doing a vacuum analyze. When I looked at the remains, there were 3 WAL
> files out there & no space left.
>
> I tried simply restarting (/etc/init.d/postgresql start) in the hopes that
> the mess would get cleaned, but with no luck. The startup script reported
> success, but no postmaster was running.
>
> I tried removing the WAL files & restarting again with the same results-
> the startup script reports success, but postmaster isn't running.
>
> I'm not worried about the data- this is on a demo system, so I can
> regenerate it quickly, but I can't even get the postmaster started so I can
> begin the restore. I guess I've learned that removing a WAL file is a Bad
> Idea (tm)... but now I need a good idea to get me back to the starting
> point.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA-
>
> -Nick
Nick,

I got bit by the same thing!
Take a look in the contrib directory for pg_resetxlog.  Thats what saved me...

GB

--
GB Clark II             | Roaming FreeBSD Admin
gclarkii@VSServices.COM | General Geek
           CTHULU for President - Why choose the lesser of two evils?