From: Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>
Message-Id: <200407051909.i65J9Hu04344@candle.pha.pa.us>
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Do we need more emphasis on backup?
In-Reply-To: 
To: PostgreSQL-general <pgsql-general@postgreSQL.org>,
	PostgreSQL-documentation <pgsql-docs@postgreSQL.org>
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 15:09:17 -0400 (EDT)
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pgman wrote:
> Jim Seymour wrote:
> > Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> wrote:
> > > 
> > [snip]
> > > 
> > > We do need to point out that you're only as reliable as your last
> > > backup.  I'm not sure exactly where to say this.
> > [snip]
> > > 
> > 
> > Hmph.  Backups are for mitigation against a catastrophic failure
> > destroying or corrupting main storage.  And even then: Subtle errors
> > can induce data corruption that may go un-noticed until it's too late.
> > (I.e.:  The last correct backups have been over-written, retired, so
> > old they've become unreadable, so old the data's no longer useful,
> > etc.)
> > 
> > My position is that your data is only as reliable as your hardware,
> > period.  Use cheap (usually PC, sorry) hardware and, well...  I wonder
> > how many people are aware of the fact that the cheaper PCs don't even
> > have parity memory anymore?  Then there are the issues with IDE
> > drives.  (Don't recall those, exactly - don't use 'em.)
> 
> There is a basic misconception that all PC hardware is created equal ---
> that hard drives, mother boards, and RAM are all the same because they
> are all PC-compatible.  Compatible != Similar Quality.
> 
> Not sure where we would document this.  :-(
> 
> Running BSD, I have always had to buy server-class hardware for my home
> machines, and I never regretted it nor had a problem.

Should I add an FAQ discussing hardware selection and the importance of
reliable hardware?

-- 
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