Re: Backup of live database

"Joshua D. Drake" <jd@commandprompt.com> writes:
> Brian Modra wrote:
>> If tar reports that a file was modified while it was being archived,
>> does that mean that the file was archived correctly, or is it corrupted
>> in the archive?

> You can not use tar to backup postgresql if it is running.

You can use it for a PITR base backup --- WAL replay will fix any
inconsistencies.  In that context it's just annoying that some tar
versions complain about this.

> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/static/backup.html

Yah.  Note that sections 23.2 and 23.3.32 are talking about entirely
different scenarios.  In the former case such a warning is scary,
in the latter not.

            regards, tom lane