Philip What is pg_checksums? pg_checksums is a utility that enables or disables data checksums in a PostgreSQL database cluster. Checksums are a data integrity feature that helps detect corruption in data files caused by issues such as hardware faults, bugs in storage systems, or even incorrect filesystem operation. How pg_checksums Works When enabled, checksums are calculated …
What is pg_standby? pg_standby is a PostgreSQL utility that supports the creation of a warm standby server by managing a continuous archive recovery process. It is primarily used in log shipping replication setups where transaction log files (WAL files) are transferred from a primary server to a standby server. How pg_standby Works The tool acts …
What is pg_receivewal? pg_receivewal is a utility that comes with PostgreSQL, designed to stream Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) records from a running PostgreSQL server to a local or remote location. This tool is a key component in implementing continuous archiving and point-in-time recovery (PITR) strategies, as it allows you to safely and efficiently archive the transaction …
What is pg_recvlogical? pg_recvlogical is a command-line tool that is part of the PostgreSQL suite, used for managing logical replication slots and streaming data changes from them. Logical replication involves replicating changes to a database schema or a subset of data to another PostgreSQL database, rather than replicating the entire database as in physical replication. …
What is pgbench? pgbench is a benchmarking tool included with PostgreSQL that is used to evaluate the performance of a PostgreSQL instance. It simulates a workload by generating multiple client sessions and executing various database operations, which helps in assessing the performance and throughput of a PostgreSQL server. How pgbench Works pgbench runs a series …
What is pg_upgrade? pg_upgrade (formerly known as pg_migrator) is a PostgreSQL utility that allows you to upgrade your PostgreSQL server instance from one major version to another without the need for a full dump and restore. This tool is essential for database administrators who want to minimize downtime during an upgrade process. How pg_upgrade Works …
What is pg_test_timing? pg_test_timing is a PostgreSQL utility designed to measure the timing overhead and accuracy on your system. It assesses the resolution and reliability of various system clock sources, which is important for PostgreSQL as it relies on accurate timing for query planning, scheduling, and other time-sensitive operations. How pg_test_timing Works The pg_test_timing tool …
What is pg_test_fsync? pg_test_fsync is a diagnostic tool included with PostgreSQL that helps measure the efficiency of various methods for flushing data to disk, also known as fsync methods. It is used to test and determine the fastest fsync method available on your system. This information can be valuable for configuring PostgreSQL for optimal I/O …
What is pg_resetwal? pg_resetwal (formerly known as pg_resetxlog) is an advanced PostgreSQL utility that is used to reset the write-ahead log (WAL) and other control information of a PostgreSQL database cluster. This tool is typically used in scenarios where the WAL has become corrupted due to a hardware failure, file system corruption, or other catastrophic …
What is pg_controldata? pg_controldata is a diagnostic tool included with PostgreSQL that allows users to display control information of a PostgreSQL database cluster. This control information is stored in a file named pg_control within the cluster’s data directory and contains essential data about the database’s state, such as checkpoint information, database system identifier, and the …