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Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:18:58 +0200
From: Robert Joosten <robert@ml.erje.net>
To: pgsql-admin@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: Migration of PGDATA
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Hi,

> is it safe to move the PGDATA directory from one system to another when migrating from one operating system to another?
> For example: migrating from Debian to RHEL, or from RHEL4 to RHEL5?
> The database is of course shutdown properly, and the PG major versions match.
> Or is a dump/restore necessary in these cases?

Besides the other reply, take into account little- versus bigendian 
changes if you switch hardware.

But just out of curiosity: why propose against a dump/restore ? I mean: 
when I upgrade between major releases I dump as well, as it is 
recommended. I never ran into trouble, you know. 

Regards,
Robert