Thread: recreating tables from global files

I suffered a major server crash.

Everything is fully reinstalled now EXCEPT postgresql8.3

There was no way I could see to get postgres running except by
removing /var/lib/pgsql/data. That was, I assumed, okay, because I have
a full backup of all the files.

So ... I reinstalled postgresql binaries following the same procedure as
for the initial installation. I then restored the data/global files, but
postgresql, while finding the database, sees no tables whatever.

I am sure there must be a way to recreate the tables from the files in
the data/global directory but I don't know what that is. Further, of
course, the files representing the tables are identified by numbers, not
their table names.

Until I have the time to research a better way to do future upgrades, I
will block any future ones. Clearly I am missing something here. I even
tried to use the pg_dump untility but it too does not see the tables,
only the database.

Ugh ... I hope someone can render a little first aid. I didn't see this
one coming. Thank goodness this happened before we get into serious data
collection next month.

George

--- "G. J. Walsh" <gjwalsh@dscdirectionalservices.com> wrote:

> I suffered a major server crash.
>
> Everything is fully reinstalled now EXCEPT postgresql8.3
>
> There was no way I could see to get postgres running except by
> removing /var/lib/pgsql/data. That was, I assumed, okay,
> because I have
> a full backup of all the files.
>
> So ... I reinstalled postgresql binaries following the same
> procedure as
> for the initial installation. I then restored the data/global
> files, but
> postgresql, while finding the database, sees no tables
> whatever.
>
> I am sure there must be a way to recreate the tables from the
> files in
> the data/global directory but I don't know what that is.
> Further, of
> course, the files representing the tables are identified by
> numbers, not
> their table names.

I assume you already consulted the documentation:

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/interactive/backup.html

Bruce

"G. J. Walsh" <gjwalsh@dscdirectionalservices.com> writes:
> I suffered a major server crash.
> Everything is fully reinstalled now EXCEPT postgresql8.3

> There was no way I could see to get postgres running except by
> removing /var/lib/pgsql/data. That was, I assumed, okay, because I have
> a full backup of all the files.

> So ... I reinstalled postgresql binaries following the same procedure as
> for the initial installation. I then restored the data/global files, but
> postgresql, while finding the database, sees no tables whatever.

You need the *entire* data directory tree, not just /global.

            regards, tom lane