Hi!

We're using two backup strategies to get consistent backups of our postgresql databases. First, we create a complete dump every night by running pg_dump, zipping the file and writing this backup on tape. Second, we create a basebackup every saturday. To create a basebackup, we run pg_start_backup. After that, we create a tar file of the complete database directory and stop the backup mode by running pg_stop_backup. Of course, all archived wal logs are also copied ;)

Well, everything was fine for month. But from time to time, I get an error when running tar:

tar: ./base/208106/209062: File shrank by 262144 bytes; padding with zeros
tar: ./base/208106/210576: file changed as we read it
tar: ./base/208106/210577: file changed as we read it
tar: ./base/208106/210431: file changed as we read it

How can this happen? I always thought, that, when in backup mode, nothing is able to change the database - so the database files shouldn't change. Can autovaccumdb cause the changes? I already read something, that this kind of errors can be ignored when creating a basebackup, but I can't believe that. Normally, the tar file have to be worthless, when an error occurs - or do I have an error in reasoning?

best regards,
Andre



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