[Qgis-user] Backing up GIS Data

[Bo Victor Thomsen]

I haven't any extensive experience with moving databases from windows to 
linux or vice versa, but I've been moving (backup/restore) databases 
between windows hundred of times.

  * I'm normally using the "Custom/binary" format, because it's the
    fastest method to do the backup/restore cycle.
  * When I'm creating/ structuring a new spatial database, I always
    leave the "public" schema alone and put data in another schema
    created for that purpose.
  * When doing a backup for the purpose of moving a database, I only
    backup the aforementioned *data* schema, *not* the "public" schema,
    thus avoiding taking backup of hundreds of PostGIS functions
    residing in schema "public". This makes it easier to move spatial
    data from one PostGIS-enabled database to another without annoying
    errors.
  * And - just as you - I use the "plain" format when it's necessary to
    make some changes to the structure or fields  with a text editor
    during the move of the database.

Regards

Bo Victor Thomsen
AestasGIS
Denmark

Den 15/07/16 kl. 15:23 skrev Micha Silver:
> Hi
>
>
> ------ Original Message ------ Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] Backing up GIS 
> Data Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2016 07:04:20 +0200 To: Qgis-user From: Bo 
> Victor Thomsen
>>
>> As an old GIS database dog -
>>
>>   * It's a wise and smart decision to use Postgres/PostGis for
>>     storing and using spatial data.
>>   * As for backup: Do *exactly* as Jeff writes :-). "Point in time"
>>     backups are nice, but not the best backup solution for Postgres
>>     databases. Jeff's solution is.
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Bo Victor Thomsen
>> AestasGIS
>> Denmark
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Den 14/07/16 kl. 21:26 skrev Jeff McKenna:
>>> Hi Tyler,
>>>
>>> This is a good question, and an important one, and don't feel bad 
>>> about posting it here - likely we can all learn from this 
>>> discussion, as it definitely involves the whole QGIS community.
>>>
>>> I have quite a lot of experience backing up databases, especially 
>>> PostgreSQL/PostGIS databases.  I can tell you that it is for sure 
>>> important to run "pg_dump" as a daily backup (in addition to your 
>>> whole server image/backup) - that pg_dump has saved me and my 
>>> clients hundreds of times, and it is very portable and easy to 
>>> access (as opposed to your whole image/machine backup).  One very 
>>> important point (that's I've learned from experience) when using 
>>> pg_dump is to *always* use the custom binary/compressed output 
>>> format (the "--format=c" commandline switch for pg_dump).  I've had 
>
> I have always used the default "plain" format for pg_dump backups. 
> When time comes to migrate data to a new installation, it allows me to 
> edit the SQL backup file: restore only some of the tables, change 
> owners, schema names, even change the database name. This is just a 
> minor convenience. Am I making a mistake? Should I move to the binary 
> format to insure reliability?
>
> Thanks
>>> terrible times with the other output format types, especially when 
>>> restoring a database from a Windows server to a Linux server etc 
>>> (with hardcoded paths inside the backup). I live by that format, 
>>> swear by it, from experience, moving so many client databases from 
>>> one machine to another.
>>>
>>> Another mailing list to keep in mind is the PostGIS mailing list, 
>>> where these backup topics also pop up from time to time - and 
>>> discussions are more geo-related, so are very helpful, than just the 
>>> generic PostgreSQL mailing list.
>>>
>>> So, definitely implement an additional backup process using pg_dump 
>>> (you can experiment restoring it through the "pg_restore" command), 
>>> you won't regret the effort spent.
>>>
>>> Happy QGIS-ing,
>>>
>>> -jeff
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
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> Micha Silver
> Arava Drainage Authority
> +972-523-665918

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