To: pgsql-general@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: Do we need more emphasis on backup?
Reply-To: pgsql-general@postgresql.org
In-Reply-To: <200407051909.i65J9Hu04344@candle.pha.pa.us>
Message-Id: <20040706123215.6E477430E@jimsun.linxnet.com>
Date: Tue,  6 Jul 2004 08:32:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: jseymour@linxnet.com (Jim Seymour)


Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us> wrote:
> 
> pgman wrote:
> > Jim Seymour wrote:
[snip]
> > > 
> > > My position is that your data is only as reliable as your hardware,
> > > period.  
[snip]
> > 
> > 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.
[snip]
> 
> Should I add an FAQ discussing hardware selection and the importance of
> reliable hardware?

Scary to think that people who don't know enough about running a proper
server, and thus have to be *told* this, are admin'ing databases.

Start with: Gotta have ECC, or at least parity-checking, RAM.

Mention the (some kinds of?) IDE drives issue.

Mention that hardware RAID systems must have battery-backed write
cache.  (I actually had a RAID vendor, whose products no longer had
batter-backed write cache, tell me "Just use a UPS.")

Jim