NetBackup™ for PostgreSQL Administrator's Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup & Alta Data Protection (10.1)

About PostgreSQL backups

The nbpgsql -o backup command for backup initiates the backup operation using the -S, -P, and -s as the required parameters. The parameters -l and -z are the required parameters for Linux operating systems.

After you set the parameters for the backup, the agent reads the parameters and starts the backup according to the specified parameters. The agent writes the data that you want to protect into the WAL files.

These WAL files are then archived in the archive directory that you can create at your chosen location.

When you create the archive or WAL directory, Veritas recommends that you create outside the data directory.

Ensure that before you run a backup, set the parameters in the postgresql.conf file to enable WAL archiving.

For more information, see See The postgresql.conf configuration file.

The agent protects the following files:

  • Schema files that are associated with all database tables.

  • Files that are associated with the database tables.

  • Data and index files.

Note:

Ensure that the PostgreSQL agent and NetBackup are of the same version for successful backup and restore operations.

Figure: NetBackup for PostgreSQL backup workflow

NetBackup for PostgreSQL backup workflow
The NetBackup for PostgreSQL workflow

When you run the backup, the NetBackup client (nbpostgresql) connects to the PostgreSQL database to execute a flush and read only lock on all tables. The NetBackup client then reads the associated PostgreSQL database files from the mounted directory and initiates the backup.

The LVM or VSS, creates a snapshot, and mounts the snapshot. The associated files (whole instance) are archived into file. The NetBackup client copies the archived file into the XBSA data object and sends to the NetBackup XBSA interface.

The NetBackup XBSA interface writes this data to the mounted media or disk storage managed by the NetBackup media server.

The command prompt displays the successful completion status of the backup. The Activity Monitor also displays the status for the backup job.