Re: [HACKERS] [DOCS] Online backup vs Continuous backup

Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> Bruce Momjian wrote:
> > I used your suggestion and renamed "online backup" to "incremental
> > backup", and added a mention that many database vendors call it
> > "online backup".
>
> Consistency would then demand that the other two be renamed to "full
> backup".  I think we had better suggestions earlier.

I am also now thinking the word "incremental" is wrong because it
implies something that happens in parts, like "backup everything that
changed from last night until now" which not how this feature works.

I am thinking "Continuous Archiving" is the proper wording, and it
avoids the "backup" word.

Updated patch attached.

--
  Bruce Momjian   http://candle.pha.pa.us
  SRA OSS, Inc.   http://www.sraoss.com

  + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +
Index: doc/src/sgml/backup.sgml
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/backup.sgml,v
retrieving revision 2.76
diff -c -c -r2.76 backup.sgml
*** doc/src/sgml/backup.sgml    7 Nov 2005 17:36:44 -0000    2.76
--- doc/src/sgml/backup.sgml    14 Feb 2006 04:00:50 -0000
***************
*** 19,25 ****
    <itemizedlist>
     <listitem><para><acronym>SQL</> dump</para></listitem>
     <listitem><para>File system level backup</para></listitem>
!    <listitem><para>On-line backup</para></listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
   </para>
--- 19,25 ----
    <itemizedlist>
     <listitem><para><acronym>SQL</> dump</para></listitem>
     <listitem><para>File system level backup</para></listitem>
!    <listitem><para>Continuous Archiving</para></listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
   </para>
***************
*** 372,382 ****
    </para>
   </sect1>

!  <sect1 id="backup-online">
!   <title>On-line backup and point-in-time recovery (PITR)</title>

    <indexterm zone="backup">
!    <primary>on-line backup</primary>
    </indexterm>

    <indexterm zone="backup">
--- 372,382 ----
    </para>
   </sect1>

!  <sect1 id="continuous-archiving">
!   <title>Continuous Archiving and Point-In-Time Recovery (PITR)</title>

    <indexterm zone="backup">
!    <primary>continuous archiving</primary>
    </indexterm>

    <indexterm zone="backup">
***************
*** 452,458 ****
    </para>

    <para>
!    To recover successfully using an on-line backup, you need a continuous
     sequence of archived WAL files that extends back at least as far as the
     start time of your backup.  So to get started, you should set up and test
     your procedure for archiving WAL files <emphasis>before</> you take your
--- 452,459 ----
    </para>

    <para>
!    To recover successfully using continuous archiving (also called "online
!    backup" by many database vendors), you need a continuous
     sequence of archived WAL files that extends back at least as far as the
     start time of your backup.  So to get started, you should set up and test
     your procedure for archiving WAL files <emphasis>before</> you take your
***************
*** 782,793 ****
      <function>pg_start_backup</> or <function>pg_stop_backup</>, and
      you will therefore be left to your own devices to keep track of which
      backup dump is which and how far back the associated WAL files go.
!     It is generally better to follow the on-line backup procedure above.
     </para>
    </sect2>

    <sect2 id="backup-pitr-recovery">
!    <title>Recovering with an On-line Backup</title>

     <para>
      Okay, the worst has happened and you need to recover from your backup.
--- 783,794 ----
      <function>pg_start_backup</> or <function>pg_stop_backup</>, and
      you will therefore be left to your own devices to keep track of which
      backup dump is which and how far back the associated WAL files go.
!     It is generally better to follow the continuous archiving procedure above.
     </para>
    </sect2>

    <sect2 id="backup-pitr-recovery">
!    <title>Recovering using a Continuous Archive Backup</title>

     <para>
      Okay, the worst has happened and you need to recover from your backup.
***************
*** 1119,1129 ****
     </para>
    </sect2>

!   <sect2 id="backup-online-caveats">
     <title>Caveats</title>

     <para>
!     At this writing, there are several limitations of the on-line backup
      technique.  These will probably be fixed in future releases:

    <itemizedlist>
--- 1120,1130 ----
     </para>
    </sect2>

!   <sect2 id="continuous-archiving-caveats">
     <title>Caveats</title>

     <para>
!     At this writing, there are several limitations of the continuous archiving
      technique.  These will probably be fixed in future releases:

    <itemizedlist>
Index: doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml,v
retrieving revision 1.47
diff -c -c -r1.47 config.sgml
*** doc/src/sgml/config.sgml    5 Feb 2006 18:19:14 -0000    1.47
--- doc/src/sgml/config.sgml    14 Feb 2006 04:00:53 -0000
***************
*** 1387,1393 ****
         <para>
          Turning off this parameter does not affect use of
          WAL archiving for point-in-time recovery (PITR)
!         (see <xref linkend="backup-online">).
         </para>

         <para>
--- 1387,1393 ----
         <para>
          Turning off this parameter does not affect use of
          WAL archiving for point-in-time recovery (PITR)
!         (see <xref linkend="continuous-archiving">).
         </para>

         <para>
Index: doc/src/sgml/func.sgml
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/func.sgml,v
retrieving revision 1.306
diff -c -c -r1.306 func.sgml
*** doc/src/sgml/func.sgml    12 Feb 2006 04:44:15 -0000    1.306
--- doc/src/sgml/func.sgml    14 Feb 2006 04:00:59 -0000
***************
*** 9784,9790 ****

     <para>
      For details about proper usage of these functions, see
!     <xref linkend="backup-online">.
     </para>

     <para>
--- 9784,9790 ----

     <para>
      For details about proper usage of these functions, see
!     <xref linkend="continuous-archiving">.
     </para>

     <para>
Index: doc/src/sgml/wal.sgml
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/pgsql/doc/src/sgml/wal.sgml,v
retrieving revision 1.38
diff -c -c -r1.38 wal.sgml
*** doc/src/sgml/wal.sgml    4 Nov 2005 23:14:02 -0000    1.38
--- doc/src/sgml/wal.sgml    14 Feb 2006 04:01:00 -0000
***************
*** 136,142 ****
     <para>
      <acronym>WAL</acronym> also makes it possible to support on-line
      backup and point-in-time recovery, as described in <xref
!     linkend="backup-online">.  By archiving the WAL data we can support
      reverting to any time instant covered by the available WAL data:
      we simply install a prior physical backup of the database, and
      replay the WAL log just as far as the desired time.  What's more,
--- 136,142 ----
     <para>
      <acronym>WAL</acronym> also makes it possible to support on-line
      backup and point-in-time recovery, as described in <xref
!     linkend="continuous-archiving">.  By archiving the WAL data we can support
      reverting to any time instant covered by the available WAL data:
      we simply install a prior physical backup of the database, and
      replay the WAL log just as far as the desired time.  What's more,