Is it possible to set up a read-only database on external data carrier
such as CD-ROM or DVD? I couldn't find anything similar in postgres
documentation. I have an old database which I would like to put on to
CD-ROM and to be able to read it occasionaly. I appreciate any hint if
that would be possible or link to documentation.
Thanks in advance

Dragan Matic


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Dragan Matic <mlists@panforma.co.yu> writes:
> Is it possible to set up a read-only database on external data carrier
> such as CD-ROM or DVD?

It's not really supported. I think you could make it work if you did
VACUUM FREEZE in the database, and then CHECKPOINT, just before burning
it on CD. You can *not* put a whole $PGDATA directory on CD, as the
xlog and clog have to be writable; but you could put one database
subdirectory there. (It would be a lot easier to use 8.0 and make the
moved-out tree a tablespace, probably.)

A big caveat is that I'm not sure the CD would work if attached to a
different $PGDATA tree, as for instance after a reinstallation. It
could definitely not be counted on to work across PG version upgrades.
So all in all the answer is probably "not worth the trouble".

regards, tom lane

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TIP 9: the planner will ignore your desire to choose an index scan if your
joining column's datatypes do not match

Tom Lane wrote:
> Dragan Matic <mlists@panforma.co.yu> writes:
>
>>Is it possible to set up a read-only database on external data carrier
>>such as CD-ROM or DVD?
>
>
> It's not really supported. I think you could make it work if you did
> VACUUM FREEZE in the database, and then CHECKPOINT, just before burning
> it on CD. You can *not* put a whole $PGDATA directory on CD, as the
> xlog and clog have to be writable; but you could put one database
> subdirectory there. (It would be a lot easier to use 8.0 and make the
> moved-out tree a tablespace, probably.)

What about making xlog and clog sym links?
>
> A big caveat is that I'm not sure the CD would work if attached to a
> different $PGDATA tree, as for instance after a reinstallation. It
> could definitely not be counted on to work across PG version upgrades.
> So all in all the answer is probably "not worth the trouble".

Oh, come on Tom, sounds like a fun thing to try....

--
Until later, Geoffrey

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