Re: Transaction logs gone, how to restart?

Jeff Boes <jboes(at)nexcerpt(dot)com> writes:
> We backed up our test server yesterday (Pg 7.4.1) as the first step in switching
> from Red Hat 7 to Whitebox. However, we failed to back up the transaction and
> commit logs. Now that the OS and database are back to where they were, we get
> this message on attempting to restart:

> LOG: could not open file "/usr/local/pgsql/data/pg_xlog/00000041000000EE" (log
> file 65, segment 238): No such file or directory

Urgh. If you shut down the postmaster cleanly before backing up, then
you don't really need pg_xlog --- running pg_resetxlog will get you out
of the above problem. However, if you did not save pg_clog then I fear
you are well and truly screwed.

How long ago was your last complete (database-wide) VACUUM? If it was
just before shutdown then you may be able to achieve some semblance of
a consistent database, but if it was awhile ago then you do not have
a database but just a pile of bits :-(

regards, tom lane