Backing up and Recovering PostgreSQL on CentOS

PostgreSQL is the world’s most advanced open source database. Its stability, functionality, and extensibility make it a primary choice for an RDBMS solution.

In this hands-on lab scenario you are the DBA for Awesome Company. You have built a PostgreSQL database backend to facilitate the development of a new web application. To make sure development and testing accurately reflect real life, you need to restore production data to a test environment.

Performing the tasks of this lab will help you become familiar with backup and recovery for PostgreSQL databases. This includes performing backups, restoring backups, and scheduling backup jobs.

Learning Objectives

Successfully complete this lab by achieving the following learning objectives:

Restore a Backup

Become the postgres user:
```
sudo su - postgres
```
Create the database to be restored:
```
createdb acweb
```

Download the backup from GitHub:

wget https://github.com/linuxacademy/content-postgresql-deepdive/raw/master/acweb/acweb.tar

Use pg_restore to restore the backup:

pg_restore --dbname=acweb --verbose /var/lib/pgsql/acweb.tar

Launch psql and verify the data is present:
```
psql
```
- List the databases:
```
l
```
- Connect to acweb:
```
c acweb
```
- Get a count for the payment table:
```
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sales.payment;
```

Perform a Backup

Exit psql:
```
q
```

Download a script to create our access log table in the dev database:

wget  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxacademy/content-postgresql-deepdive/master/acweb/accessLog.sql

Use psql to execute the script:
```
psql -f accessLog.sql acweb
```
Make a directory for our backups:
```
mkdir backups
```
Back up the dev version of the database that includes our new table:
```
pg_dump -F t acweb > backups/acwebdev.tar
```

Schedule a Backup

Download this backup script:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxacademy/content-postgresql-deepdive/master/acweb/pg_backup.sh

Make the script executable:
```
chmod +x pg_backup.sh
```
Test the script by executing it:
```
./pg_backup.sh
```
Check for a backup file:
```
ls backups
```
Edit crontab:
```
crontab -e
```
Add the following entry (after pressing i to insert):
```
0 1 * * * /var/lib/pgsql/pg_backup.sh
```
Save and exit:
```
:wq
```
Verify the entry:
```
crontab -l
```

What are Hands-on Labs

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Backing up and Recovering PostgreSQL on CentOS

About this Hands-on Lab

Learning Objectives

Additional Resources

What are Hands-on Labs

Newsletter