NetVault Plug-in for PostgreSQL 11.1 - User Guide

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Plain-text SQL Script File: This format generates a plain-text file that contains the SQL commands required to reconstruct the database to the state it was in at the time of backup.

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TAR Archive File: This format generates a tape archive (TAR) file that is not compressed.

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Custom Archive File: This format generates an archive file that is compressed by default. It lets you select the compression level and can be used for tables that are larger than the maximum file size supported by the OS.

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Full Database Cluster: This option backs up all the databases within the cluster in the selected backup format. It also includes a backup of Global Objects, which are in the form of a Plain-text Script file, regardless of the backup format specified. The plug-in automatically includes the configuration files when the database cluster is selected; however, you can exclude it from the backup if applicable.

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Individual Database/Table: This option backs up selected databases or tables in the selected backup format. You can use it to back up databases that are updated more frequently than others or use it as a source when creating test environments. This option does not include Global Objects when the databases or tables are backed up individually.

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Global Objects Only: This option backs up only the Global Objects, which you can use to back up the updates made to the database users, groups, and access permissions.

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Configuration Files Backup: You can back up the configuration files with any of the preceding backup types, or separately. The following files are included when you select this option:

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postgresql.conf: This file is the primary server configuration file that contains all the parameter settings and directives.

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pg_hba.conf: This file is the host-based authentication (HBA) or client authentication file.

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pg_ident.conf: This file stores ident maps, excluding sameuser, and is used for ident-based authentication.

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Full Database Cluster backups only: If update characteristics are similar across multiple databases, Full Database Cluster backups scheduled every night ensures data protection up to the previous day.

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Full Database Cluster backups and Individual Database/Table backups: If some databases are updated more frequently than others, regular Individual Database/Table backup coupled with periodic Full Database Cluster backup is an ideal strategy. For example, Full Database Cluster backups can be performed every Sunday night at 11:00 p.m., while Individual Database backups for the databases that are updated frequently can be performed Monday through Saturday at 11:00 p.m. This ensures data protection up to the previous day. You can increase backup frequency to reduce data loss, and use the Custom Archive format with a higher compression level for large databases to reduce the backup size.

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Global Objects Only backup: Because the individual database backups exclude the global objects, you can use Global Objects Only after updates are made to the database users, groups, and access permissions. This option ensures that these recent backups can be used instead of Full Database Cluster backups.

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Individual Database/Table backups and Global Objects Only backups: You could use a backup strategy of Individual Database/Table backups plus Global Objects Only backup where you back up the individual databases according to their update frequency. You might back up databases that updated less frequently on a weekly basis and back up the remaining databases daily. Also, you might run Global Objects Only backups weekly or on demand after an update to the database groups, users, and access permissions is made.