clarification for pg_basebackup and major versions

From: PG Doc comments form <noreply(at)postgresql(dot)org>
To: pgsql-docs(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org
Cc: alexey(dot)shishkin(at)enterprisedb(dot)com
Subject: clarification for pg_basebackup and major versions
Date: 2025-12-29 20:45:02
Message-ID: 176704110285.978869.17442362272602441829@wrigleys.postgresql.org
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The following documentation comment has been logged on the website:

Page: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/18/app-pgbasebackup.html
Description:

Hi, Team !

Could we pls. clarify the following statement on the documentation page
https://www.postgresql.org/docs/18/app-pgbasebackup.html:
'pg_basebackup works with servers of the same or older major version, down
to 9.1.'

What does it exactly mean 'works with servers of the same or older major
version' ?

Most probably it means the possibility to use pg_basebackup binary of
version PG 17 to take backup of PG 14 server. Or something else ?

But it's definitely not ability to use pg_basebackup for PostgreSQL major
version upgrade, since pg_basebackup is not listed among the supported
options in https://www.postgresql.org/docs/18/upgrading.html

So, pls. let me propose two things:
- to clarify how pg_basebackup works with servers of the same or older major
version
- to clearly specify pg_basebackup cannot be used for PostgreSQL major
version upgrade

It could be done on the same page
https://www.postgresql.org/docs/18/app-pgbasebackup.html

Thanks !

best regards
Alexey Shishkin

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