Why PostgreSQL 17's Incremental Backup Feature is a Game-Changer

submited by

Style Pass

2024-09-30 12:30:09

With the release of PostgreSQL17 arriving in fall 2024, the database community is abuzz over a pivotal new feature: incremental backup . This enhancement holds the promise of significantly improving backup efficiency by enabling faster, smaller backups compared to traditional full backups alone, depending on the amount of data changed between backups. Barman 3.11 introduced a metric called “Resources saving” that shows an estimate of resources saved by taking incremental backups, as compared to the full cluster size (full backup).

Incremental backups are a cornerstone of effective database backup strategies. They provide flexibility and efficiency by only backing up the data that has changed since the last backup. This approach can save time and storage space, making it an attractive option for many organizations. The incremental backup feature in PostgreSQL 17 is poised to provide users with greater flexibility in their backup routines. For instance, a common backup schedule might include one full backup weekly, daily incremental backups, and continuous write-ahead log backups. This combination offers a mix of backup types, protection, and point-in-time recoverability for many scenarios.

In early testing , supported by EDB, we’ve seen a significant improvement in recovery times for PostgreSQL, dropping from 78 minutes to just 4 minutes in one test, a reduction in recovery time by almost 95%. The key to this drastic reduction lies in using incremental backups.