Implement Postgresql DB backup and recovery using the Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery Service
The purpose of this blog is to outline the use case of leveraging Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery (DR) service for backing up and recovering PostgreSQL Databases.
From this blog, you will get a high-level understanding of how to:
- Set up the Google Cloud Backup and DR service
- Use Google Cloud Backup and DR for PostgreSQL databases
- Mount PostgreSQL backups to restore a database
I. Introduction
Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery is a service provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that allows users to create and manage backups of their data, including PostgreSQL databases. With this service, users can ensure that their data is safe and can be easily recovered in the event of data loss or system failures. This service provides a variety of tools and features for backup and recovery, including the Google Cloud Backup Appliance, which simplifies the backup and restore process for PostgreSQL databases.
II. Background on PostgreSQL Backups and Recovery
- Importance of regular backups of your PostgreSQL database
Regular backups of your PostgreSQL database are essential for disaster recovery, data loss prevention, compliance, testing and development, and database performance. It’s important to establish a backup and recovery plan that meets your organization’s specific needs and requirements, and to regularly test your backups to ensure that they can be successfully restored when needed.
- Different types of backups, such as logical backups and physical backups
- Logical backups: Logical backups are backups that consist of SQL statements that can be used to recreate the database. They are usually in a human-readable format and can be created using PostgreSQL’s pg_dump utility. Logical backups can be used to restore a database to a specific point in time or to transfer data between different PostgreSQL instances, but they can be slower to create and restore than physical backups.
- Physical backups: Physical backups are backups that consist of a copy of the database files themselves. They are usually faster to create and restore than logical backups and can be created using PostgreSQL’s pg_basebackup utility or a file system backup. Physical backups can be used to restore the entire database, including system files and configuration files, to a specific point in time, but they cannot be used to transfer data between different PostgreSQL instances.
There are several variations of physical backups that can be used depending on the specific requirements of the backup and recovery plan:
- Full backups: Full backups consist of a complete copy of the database and are usually created on a regular schedule, such as daily or weekly.
- Differential backups: Differential backups only contain the changes made since the last full backup and can be created more frequently than full backups to reduce backup times and storage requirements.
- Incremental backups: Incremental backups only contain the changes made since the last backup, whether that backup was a full backup or a differential backup. Incremental backups can be created more frequently than differential backups, but require more complex restore procedures.
- Different recovery scenarios, such as point-in-time recovery and full database recovery
There are several recovery scenarios that can be used to restore a PostgreSQL database to a previous state, including point-in-time recovery and full database recovery:
- Point-in-time recovery: Point-in-time recovery (PITR) allows you to restore a PostgreSQL database to a specific point in time, typically before a failure or data loss occurred. PITR requires regular backups and WAL (Write-Ahead Log) archives, which record all changes made to the database since the last backup. To perform a PITR, you restore the most recent backup and then apply the WAL archives up to the desired recovery point.
- Full database recovery: Full database recovery restores the entire database to the most recent backup available. This scenario is typically used in the case of a complete database failure or when the entire database needs to be restored to a previous state. After restoring the most recent backup, you apply any changes made since the backup uses either archived WAL files or logical backups.
- Transaction log replay: Transaction log replay is used to recover from a single transaction failure. In this scenario, you use the WAL archives to replay the transaction log and roll back the database to just before the failed transaction occurred.
- Standby server promotion: A standby server is a replication server that is kept in sync with the primary server. If the primary server fails, the standby server can be promoted to take its place. This scenario provides a quick and easy failover solution and is typically used for high availability and disaster recovery.
III. Setting up the Google Cloud Backup Appliance
- What is the Google Cloud Backup Appliance?
The Google Cloud Backup Appliance is a hardware solution that provides backup and recovery capabilities for enterprise workloads, including PostgreSQL databases. It supports features such as incremental backups, point-in-time recovery, and encryption, and can be used to backup data from a variety of sources both on-premises and in the cloud.
- Benefits of using the Google Cloud Backup Appliance
The Google Cloud Backup Appliance offers a range of benefits to users, including simplified setup, easy management, cross-platform support, scalability, security, and integration with Google Cloud services. These benefits make the appliance an attractive option for organizations looking for a comprehensive backup and recovery solution for their enterprise workloads.
- Step-by-step instructions for setting up the Google Cloud Backup Appliance
- Set up and plan a Backup and DR deployment | Google Cloud
- Prepare to deploy Backup and DR | Google Cloud
- Deploy Backup and DR | Google Cloud
IV. Using Google Cloud Backup and DR for PostgreSQL Databases
- Add a database host and discover the databases and instances
Install the Backup and DR agent on the database server
The Backup and DR agent, a small-footprint, lightweight service on the server, is used to capture an application-consistent copy of databases. It uses change block tracking to identify changes to database data for Backup and DR’s incremental forever capture strategy. All database servers that have data to be protected by Backup and DR must have the Backup and DR agent installed.
- Obtain the right Backup and DR agent for your host
- Log onto the Linux server as root.
- Install the Backup and DR agent
Before you can back up a database, you must add the host to the management console and discover the database or its instance. This requires the following steps:
- Add the host to the management console
- Discover the database or instance from the App Manager
- Set the host staging disk format
- Find the discovered database or instance in the App Manager
- Create a backup template
Templates consist of backup policies which provide a way to specify the timing, frequency, and retention duration of backups. These policies allow you to determine when a backup should be initiated, how often it should occur, and how long the resulting backup image should be retained, whether it be in terms of days, weeks, months, or years.
Furthermore, these policies offer the flexibility to configure additional settings specific to various applications, including file systems, databases, or virtual machines, when applying the policy to them.
To summarize, backup policies within templates enable the customization of backup schedules and parameters based on specific requirements for different applications.
Use these instructions to create a backup template — Manage backup templates | Backup and DR | Google Cloud
V. Mounting PostgreSQL backups for quick access to data
The mount action enables quick and efficient access to specific files or data within backup images, eliminating the need for a full restore process. By mounting an image, you gain the ability to retrieve or analyze targeted data while preserving the integrity of the original source.
Standard and Application-aware mounts:
- Standard database image mounts enable the mounting of captured database data for direct usage by its associated application. This allows you to access and utilize the mounted data from the hosting environment or selectively restore specific files or directories from it.
Importantly, the original image remains unaltered even if modifications or deletions are made to the mounted image.
For standard mount follow the steps outlined here — Mount other types of databases | Backup and DR | Google Cloud - In contrast, application-aware database image mounts provide the ability to mount captured databases as virtual applications. This streamlined approach grants quick access to databases without the need to import the mounted data into the application itself. Consistency groups containing databases can be mounted together in an application-aware manner.
This feature specifically addresses the challenges involved in creating and managing copies of production databases for non-production purposes. Notably, application-aware mounts are performed from the backup/recovery appliance, reducing the need for manual intervention from database, server, or storage administrators.
Such mounts are ideal for tasks like database reporting, analytics, integrity testing, as well as test and development activities.
For application-aware mount follow the steps outlined here — Mount other types of databases | Backup and DR | Google Cloud
Management of the active mounts
After setting up a mount, it’s essential to keep track of the image in the App Manager’s “Active Mounts” section. However, it is not recommended to leave any image mounted indefinitely. This is because the original backup image cannot be deleted until all associated mounts have been removed. Once you no longer require the mounted image, you have two options:
- Unmount the image: This allows you to detach the image from the current environment. If necessary, you can remount it at a later time. However, it is advisable to delete the image when you are certain it is no longer needed.
- Unmount and delete the image: This action involves removing the mounted image itself, without affecting the underlying backup from which it was created. By choosing this option, you effectively eliminate the mounted image while preserving the original backup.
Remember, it is important to manage mounted images responsibly to maintain an efficient backup and recovery workflow.
Reference: Manage active mounts | Backup and DR | Google Cloud
VI. Conclusion
We’ve now seen how implementing PostgreSQL database backup and recovery using the Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery Service offers significant advantages in terms of data protection, reliability, and operational efficiency. By leveraging this service, organizations can ensure the safety and availability of their critical data in the event of unexpected failures or disasters.
The Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery Service provides a comprehensive and streamlined solution for creating regular backups of PostgreSQL databases. It automates the backup process, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing the risk of human errors. With flexible scheduling options and configurable retention policies, organizations can tailor their backup strategies to meet their specific requirements.
Additionally, the service enables seamless recovery from backups, allowing organizations to restore their databases to a previous state quickly. This is crucial for minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity in the face of data corruption, hardware failures, or other unforeseen events.
By utilizing the Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery Service, organizations can leverage Google Cloud’s robust infrastructure and advanced data protection features. These include encryption, redundancy, and geo-replication, ensuring data durability and compliance with security standards.
Overall, implementing PostgreSQL DB backup and recovery using the Google Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery Service empowers organizations to safeguard their valuable data, maintain operational continuity, and gain peace of mind knowing that their critical databases are protected with a reliable and scalable solution.
VII. References
