backup procedures

I know it's not suggested that you backup a live/active database. I
believe that the suggested procedure is to take a snapshot of the database
by dumping it and then backing up the dump.

However I have an app that is used only by a single deptartment here. Data
is not changing 24/7, there is no way that anybody is working on this at 3am.

Is there any harm in backing up this live database w/o dumping it? Because
of it's small audience, if I needed to restore the data, I could shutdown
the postgres daemon, restore the data, and then fire it back up.

Not a huge deal, just being a bit lazy w/ backup procedures. I mean it's
not really hard to have my backup script dump the db before the tape fires
up and then skip backing up the live db.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Edward F. Chase III | echase(at)providence(dot)edu
Providence College | http://www.providence.edu
Computer Services | http://studentweb.providence.edu
Providence, RI 02918 |