Dear PostgreSQL Community, I am currently planning a major version upgrade from PostgreSQL 16 to PostgreSQL 17. I have three node patroni cluster. While I am aware that logical replication is the standard approach for cross-version migrations, I am curious about the feasibility of physical streaming replication in this specific scenario. Specifically, I would like to clarify:
1. Is physical streaming replication backward compatible between these two major versions? 2. Since many data files remain consistent between versions, is there any supported method to leverage physical block-level replication to minimize the initial data synchronization time before a cutover? I understand that WAL formats and system catalogs typically change between major releases, but I wanted to confirm if there are any modern workarounds or "late-binding" techniques available in the v17 ecosystem. Thank you for your time and expertise. Best regards,
