Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 23:12:57 -0400
From: Robert Treat <xzilla@users.sourceforge.net>
Subject: Re: Best OS for Postgres 8.2
In-reply-to: <Pine.GSO.4.64.0705082302170.29385@westnet.com>
To: pgsql-performance@postgresql.org
Cc: Greg Smith <gsmith@gregsmith.com>
Message-id: <200705112312.57390.xzilla@users.sourceforge.net>
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On Tuesday 08 May 2007 23:31, Greg Smith wrote:
> On Tue, 8 May 2007, Tom Lane wrote:
> > What Debian has done is set up an arrangement that lets you run two (or
> > more) different PG versions in parallel.  Since that's amazingly helpful
> > during a major-PG-version upgrade, most of the other packagers are
> > scheming how to do something similar.
>
> I alluded to that but it is worth going into more detail on for those not
> familiar with this whole topic.  I normally maintain multiple different PG
> versions in parallel already, mostly using environment variables to switch
> between them with some shell code.  Debian has taken an approach where
> commands like pg_ctl are wrapped in multi-version/cluster aware scripts,
> so you can do things like restarting multiple installations more easily
> than that.
>
> My issue wasn't with the idea, it was with the implementation.  When I
> have my newbie hat on, it adds a layer of complexity that isn't needed for
> simple installs.

I think I would disagree with this. The confusion comes from the fact that it 
is different, not that it is more complex.  For new users what seems to be 
most confusing is getting from install to initdb to logging in... if you tell 
them to use pg_ctlcluster rather than pg_ctl, it isn't more confusing, there 
just following directions at that point anyway.  If the upstream project were 
to switch to debian's system, I think you'd end most of the confusion, make 
it easier to run concurrent servers and simplify the upgrade process for 
source installs, and give other package maintiners a way to achive what 
debian has.  Maybe in PG 9... 

-- 
Robert Treat
Build A Brighter LAMP :: Linux Apache {middleware} PostgreSQL