Hello,
Are the database files created by 32-bit PostgreSQL identical to the files created by 64-bit PostgreSQL? The database files would reside on a SAN or DAS device external to the servers. If the server running a 64-bit installation of PostgreSQL were to fail, would we be able to bring a server running a 32-bit installation online and run it against the original database files?
We would absolutely not be simultaneously running two instances of the database against the same database files. My background is with MS SQL Server, where a database can be “reattached” to a different instance of the software (although not between 32-bit and 64-bit versions). We would be running PostgreSQL on RHEL/CentOS 5.
I realize having a separate server is not a sufficient disaster recovery strategy. We do regular database backups to tape in the event of data corruption or catastrophic failure.
Replication with Slony-I is also an option, however a complete hot or warm spare configuration would require additional storage space. Is it possible to replicate from 64-bit to 32-bit?
If you haven’t already guessed, we are trying to save a few dollars by switching to a capable open source database and running our failover systems with older 32-bit hardware rather than an identical new 64-bit machine.
Thank you,
Adam Talaat