To: pgsql-general@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: Do we need more emphasis on backup?
Reply-To: pgsql-general@postgresql.org
In-Reply-To: <20040706140058.GB30186@dcc.uchile.cl>
Message-Id: <20040706161128.B2191430E@jimsun.linxnet.com>
Date: Tue,  6 Jul 2004 12:11:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: jseymour@linxnet.com (Jim Seymour)

Alvaro Herrera <alvherre@dcc.uchile.cl> wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Jul 06, 2004 at 08:32:15AM -0400, Jim Seymour wrote:
> 
> > Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us> wrote:
> 
> > > 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.
> 
[snip] 
> For us rest-of-the-worlders, it's not always possible to get top of the
> line hardware.
[snip]

There's a difference between "not knowing your should" and "not being
able to do it."  I addressed cluelessness, not economic ability.

> 
[snip]
> 
> So I think it's a good idea to mention that better hardware can be
> helpful.  

"Helpful?"  Hmmm...  You know, recently there was a "consumer alert"
item during one of the major U.S. TV networks' news shows.  It seems
that all kinds of counterfeit products are making it into the stores
here.  Even after-market automotive brake pads made of nothing but
compressed and painted/dyed vegetable matter.  Needless to say, using
brake bads made of proper brake pad material is "helpful." ;)

Somebody's *ability* to employ proper hardware does not affect whether 
or not it's advisable to do so.  This isn't a "rich" vs. "poor" issue.
If you cannot do it, you cannot do it, and that's that.  But that does
not lessen the importance of knowing you should.

>           But don't make that sound like if you don't have it, it's the
> end of the world or the admin is an uneducated moron.

If your db destructs due to an undetected RAM problem (undetected
because your computer has not even parity error detection) and the data
in that db is "life or death" critical to your business, it might well
be the end of the world as far as your business is concerned.

Jim