Updating the Same Version of Postgres

These steps are for updating Postgres on a Macintosh OSX server where the version of postgres is at the SAME major revision level as you are currently running. The major revision level is denoted by the first two digits of the postgres version.

Remember, do not attempt to try this unless you just made a backup of your database. Preferably, you should also have restored that backup on another machine for safety, logged into it using Theatre Manager to prove that you can restore a backup and that it has 100% integrity.

If you are using Hot Streaming Replication, so MUST stop the replication server FIRST and upgrade the version of postgres on it before doing the main server. If not, you may end up redoing the replication server.

Always verify that replication is working properly after a postgres update.

  1. Make sure you are running postgres version 9.2 or later.
  2. Refer to downloading the latest Mac Installer for postgres
  3. Make sure you have just made a backup of the databases in the server
  4. use terminal and PG_CTL to 'stop' the database
    a) start terminal
    b) type su - postgres
    c) provide the password
    d) type pg_ctl stop -m immediate

  5. Run the installer which will update and restart an existing PostgreSQL installation.

    Make sure to read the next step before starting the install to decide if you can do an easy install or the custom install.

  6. If you have set up the hot standby server, make sure to
    • stop the hot standby at the same time
    • Only use the custom install to update the MAIN server (which does not install a revised demo database) as per below.

    • Upgrade the Hot Standby to the same version of the database server using the same custom installer.
    • Verify that replication is still working after the upgrade
  7. try log in to Theatre Manager afterwards