Commit 4fef90df authored by Bruce Momjian's avatar Bruce Momjian

Add doc clarifications for warm standby.

parent aad991b4
<!-- $PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/backup.sgml,v 2.105 2007/10/16 05:37:40 momjian Exp $ --> <!-- $PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/backup.sgml,v 2.106 2007/10/16 14:56:51 momjian Exp $ -->
<chapter id="backup"> <chapter id="backup">
<title>Backup and Restore</title> <title>Backup and Restore</title>
...@@ -1316,10 +1316,9 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows ...@@ -1316,10 +1316,9 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows
<para> <para>
Continuous archiving can be used to create a <firstterm>high Continuous archiving can be used to create a <firstterm>high
availability</> (HA) cluster configuration with one or more availability</> (HA) cluster configuration with one or more
<firstterm>standby servers</> ready to take <firstterm>standby servers</> ready to take over operations if the
over operations if the primary server fails. This primary server fails. This capability is widely referred to as
capability is widely referred to as <firstterm>warm standby</> <firstterm>warm standby</> or <firstterm>log shipping</>.
or <firstterm>log shipping</>.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
...@@ -1337,26 +1336,26 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows ...@@ -1337,26 +1336,26 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows
Directly moving WAL or "log" records from one database server to another Directly moving WAL or "log" records from one database server to another
is typically described as log shipping. <productname>PostgreSQL</> is typically described as log shipping. <productname>PostgreSQL</>
implements file-based log shipping, which means that WAL records are implements file-based log shipping, which means that WAL records are
transferred one file (WAL segment) at a time. WAL transferred one file (WAL segment) at a time. WAL files (16MB) can be
files can be shipped easily and cheaply over any distance, whether it be shipped easily and cheaply over any distance, whether it be to an
to an adjacent system, another system on the same site or another system adjacent system, another system on the same site or another system on
on the far side of the globe. The bandwidth required for this technique the far side of the globe. The bandwidth required for this technique
varies according to the transaction rate of the primary server. varies according to the transaction rate of the primary server.
Record-based log shipping is also possible with custom-developed Record-based log shipping is also possible with custom-developed
procedures, as discussed in <xref linkend="warm-standby-record">. procedures, as discussed in <xref linkend="warm-standby-record">.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
It should be noted that the log shipping is asynchronous, i.e. the It should be noted that the log shipping is asynchronous, i.e. the WAL
WAL records are shipped after transaction commit. As a result there records are shipped after transaction commit. As a result there is a
is a window for data loss should the primary server window for data loss should the primary server suffer a catastrophic
suffer a catastrophic failure: transactions not yet shipped will be lost. failure: transactions not yet shipped will be lost. The length of the
The length of the window of data loss window of data loss can be limited by use of the
can be limited by use of the <varname>archive_timeout</varname> parameter, <varname>archive_timeout</varname> parameter, which can be set as low
which can be set as low as a few seconds if required. However such low as a few seconds if required. However such low settings will
settings will substantially increase the bandwidth requirements for file substantially increase the bandwidth requirements for file shipping.
shipping. If you need a window of less than a minute or so, it's probably If you need a window of less than a minute or so, it's probably better
better to look into record-based log shipping. to look into record-based log shipping.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
...@@ -1367,7 +1366,7 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows ...@@ -1367,7 +1366,7 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows
capability as a warm standby configuration that offers high capability as a warm standby configuration that offers high
availability. Restoring a server from an archived base backup and availability. Restoring a server from an archived base backup and
rollforward will take considerably longer, so that technique only rollforward will take considerably longer, so that technique only
really offers a solution for disaster recovery, not HA. really offers a solution for disaster recovery, not high availability.
</para> </para>
<sect2 id="warm-standby-planning"> <sect2 id="warm-standby-planning">
...@@ -1416,22 +1415,20 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows ...@@ -1416,22 +1415,20 @@ restore_command = 'copy /mnt/server/archivedir/%f "%p"' # Windows
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
The magic that makes the two loosely coupled servers work together The magic that makes the two loosely coupled servers work together is
is simply a <varname>restore_command</> used on the standby that waits for simply a <varname>restore_command</> used on the standby that waits
the next WAL file to become available from the primary. The for the next WAL file to become available from the primary. The
<varname>restore_command</> is specified in the <filename>recovery.conf</> <varname>restore_command</> is specified in the
file on the standby <filename>recovery.conf</> file on the standby server. Normal recovery
server. Normal recovery processing would request a file from the processing would request a file from the WAL archive, reporting failure
WAL archive, reporting failure if the file was unavailable. For if the file was unavailable. For standby processing it is normal for
standby processing it is normal for the next file to be the next file to be unavailable, so we must be patient and wait for
unavailable, so we must be patient and wait for it to appear. A it to appear. A waiting <varname>restore_command</> can be written as
waiting <varname>restore_command</> can be written as a custom a custom script that loops after polling for the existence of the next
script that loops after polling for the existence of the next WAL WAL file. There must also be some way to trigger failover, which should
file. There must also be some way to trigger failover, which interrupt the <varname>restore_command</>, break the loop and return
should interrupt the <varname>restore_command</>, break the loop a file-not-found error to the standby server. This ends recovery and
and return a file-not-found error to the standby server. This the standby will then come up as a normal server.
ends recovery and the standby will then come up as a normal
server.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
......
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