<para>

To initialize backup directory, execute the following command:

<programlisting>

pg_probackup init -B <replaceable class="parameter">backup_directory</replaceable>

pg_probackup init -B <replaceable class="parameter">backup_directory</replaceable> -D <replaceable class="parameter">data_directory</replaceable>

</programlisting>

</para>

<programlisting>

pg_probackup validate <replaceable class="parameter">backup_id</replaceable>

</programlisting>

For details, see <xref linkend="pg-probackup-checksums"> and <xref linkend="pg-probackup-validating-backups"></para>

For details, see <xref linkend="pg-probackup-checksums"> and <xref linkend="pg-probackup-validating-backups">.</para>

<para>

To restore the database cluster from the backup,

<para>

<application>pg_probackup</application> deletes all backup copies and the corresponding WAL files that do not conform to the policy defined in the <filename>pg_probackup.conf</filename> file.

If both <option>redundancy</option> and <option>window</option> options are

set, <application>pg_probackup</application>delete only thosebackup

copiesthat satisfy both conditions. For example, if you set <option>redundancy</option>=2 and <option>window</option>=7, <application>pg_probackup</application> cleans up the backup directory to keep only two full backup copies if at least one of them is older than 7 days.

set, <application>pg_probackup</application>keepsbackup copies

that satisfy both conditions. For example, if you set <option>redundancy</option>=2 and <option>window</option>=7, <application>pg_probackup</application> cleans up the backup directory to keep only two full backup copies if at least one of them is older than 7 days.

</para>

<para>

Alternatively, you can override the default policy using <option>--redundancy</option> and <option>--window</option>

To make sure the recovery is possible, run the <command>validate</command> command with the exact options you are going to use for recovery. <application>pg_probackup</application> checks that all the required backup files are present and can be used to restore the database cluster if needed. </para>

<para>For example, to check that you can restore the database cluster from a backup copy with the <replaceable>backup_id</replaceable> up to the specified <option>xid</option> transaction ID, run this command:

<programlisting>

pg_probackup validate --xid=<replaceable>xid</replaceable> <replaceable>backup_id</replaceable>

pg_probackup validate --xid=<replaceable>xid</replaceable> <replaceable>backup_id</replaceable>

</programlisting>

For the list of available options, see <xref linkend="pg-probackup-options">.</para>

<para>If validation completed successfully, <application>pg_probackup</application> displays the corresponding message. If validation fails, you will receive an error message with the exact time and transaction ID up to which the recovery is possible. </para>