Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PostgreSQL

Last updated:Thu May18 23:52:32 EDT 2006

Last updated:Tue May23 11:22:06 EDT 2006

Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (pgman@candle.pha.pa.us)

1.3) What is the copyright of PostgreSQL?

1.4) What platforms does PostgreSQL support?

1.5) Where can I get PostgreSQL?

1.6) What is thelatest release?

1.6) What is themost recent release?

1.7) Where can I get support?

1.8) How do I submit a bug report?

1.9) How do I find out about known bugs or missing features?

Via web browser, use http://www.postgresql.org/ftp/, and via ftp, use

ftp://ftp.PostgreSQL.org/pub/.

1.6) What is thelatest release?

1.6) What is themost recent release?

The latest release of PostgreSQL is version 8.1.4.

3.6) Why do I need to do a dump and restore to upgrade between major

PostgreSQL releases?

The PostgreSQL team makes only small changes between minor releases,

so upgrading from 7.4.0 to 7.4.1 does not require a dump and restore.

However, major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the

internal format of system tables and data files. These changes are

often complex, so we don't maintain backward compatibility for data

files. A dump outputs data in a generic format that can then be loaded

in using the new internal format.

The PostgreSQL team makes only bug fixes in minor releases, so, for

example, upgrading from 7.4.8 to 7.4.9 does not require a dump and

restore; merely stop the database server, install the updated

binaries, and restart the server.

All users should upgrade to the most recent minor release as soon as

it is available. While every upgrade has some risk, PostgreSQL minor

releases are designed to fix only common bugs with the least risk. The

community considers not upgrading more risky that upgrading.

Major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the internal format

of system tables and data files. These changes are often complex, so

we don't maintain backward compatibility for data files. A dump/reload

of the database is required for major upgrades.

3.7) What computer hardware should I use?

alink="#0000ff">

<H1>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PostgreSQL</H1>

<P>Last updated:Thu May18 23:52:32 EDT 2006</P>

<P>Last updated:Tue May23 11:22:06 EDT 2006</P>

<P>Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (<Ahref=

"mailto:pgman@candle.pha.pa.us">pgman@candle.pha.pa.us</A>)

<Ahref="#item1.3">1.3</A>) What is the copyright of PostgreSQL?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.4">1.4</A>) What platforms does PostgreSQL support?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.5">1.5</A>) Where can I get PostgreSQL?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.6">1.6</A>) What is thelatest release?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.6">1.6</A>) What is themost recent release?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.7">1.7</A>) Where can I get support?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.8">1.8</A>) How do I submit a bug report?<BR>

<Ahref="#item1.9">1.9</A>) How do I find out about known bugs or

<Ahref="ftp://ftp.PostgreSQL.org/pub/">

ftp://ftp.PostgreSQL.org/pub/</A>.</P>

<H3id="item1.6">1.6) What is thelatest release?</H3>

<H3id="item1.6">1.6) What is themost recent release?</H3>

<P>The latest release of PostgreSQL is version 8.1.4.</P>

<H3id="item3.6">3.6) Why do I need to do a dump and restore

to upgrade between major PostgreSQL releases?</H3>

<P>The PostgreSQL team makes only small changes between minor releases,

so upgrading from 7.4.0 to 7.4.1 does not require a dump and restore.

However, major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the internal

<P>The PostgreSQL team makes only bug fixes in minor releases,

so, for example, upgrading from 7.4.8 to 7.4.9 does not require

a dump and restore; merely stop the database server, install

the updated binaries, and restart the server.</P>

<P>All users should upgrade to the most recent minor release as

soon as it is available. While every upgrade has some risk,

PostgreSQL minor releases are designed to fix only common bugs

with the least risk. The community considers<i>not</i> upgrading

more risky that upgrading.</P>

<P>Major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the internal

format of system tables and data files. These changes are often complex,

so we don't maintain backward compatibility for data files. A dump outputs

data in a generic format that can then be loaded in using the new internal

format.</P>

so we don't maintain backward compatibility for data files. A dump/reload

of the database is required for major upgrades.</P>

<H3id="item3.7">3.7) What computer hardware should I use?</H3>