postgres patching update - ghdrako/doc_snipets GitHub Wiki

PostgreSQL patching typically involves updating to a new minor version to address security vulnerabilities or bug fixes. The process generally includes backing up the database, stopping the PostgreSQL service, installing the new binaries, and then restarting the service. Specific steps and tools may vary depending on the operating system and whether you're using a single-instance or a high-availability (HA) cluster.

General Steps for Patching PostgreSQL:

  1. Backup the Database:

    • Create a full backup of your PostgreSQL database using tools like pg_dump or a system-level backup.

  2. Stop the PostgreSQL Service:

    • Stop the PostgreSQL server to prevent any write operations during the patching process. The specific command will depend on your operating system and service manager (e.g., systemctl stop postgresql on Linux systems).

  3. Install New PostgreSQL Binaries:

    • Install the updated PostgreSQL binaries. This may involve using your system's package manager (e.g., apt, yum, or brew) or downloading and installing from source.

  4. Upgrade the Database:

  • Use the pg_upgrade utility (or similar) to upgrade the database to the new version. This utility migrates the data from the old version to the new one.
  1. Start the PostgreSQL Service:
  • Start the PostgreSQL service with the new binaries.
  1. Verify the Upgrade:
  • Connect to the database using psql or a similar tool and verify that the new version is running correctly.
  1. Clean Up:
  • Remove any temporary files or directories created during the upgrade process.
  1. Test the Application:
  • Thoroughly test your applications to ensure they work correctly with the upgraded database.
# Backup the database (using pg_dump)
pg_dump -U your_user -d your_database > backup.sql

# Stop the service
sudo systemctl stop postgresql

# Install the new binaries (using apt, for example)
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade postgresql-14

# Start the service
sudo systemctl start postgresql

# Verify the upgrade
psql -U your_user -d your_database -c "SELECT version();"

# Clean up (remove old binaries if no longer needed)
sudo apt remove postgresql-13  # Example