Databases
How to Test Backup and Restore Drills for a Small Database
Run a restore drill for a small database: schedule, steps, a clean machine, timing the recovery, checking data and writing down what to fix.
6 min read
Topic
Databases
Dumps, restores, ad-hoc queries and safe data moves for MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite from the terminal.
Databases
How to Use jq to Prepare JSON for Database Import Safely
Prepare JSON for a database import with jq: flatten to CSV or JSON Lines, handle nulls and types, escape safely, and load with COPY, mongoimport or SQLite.
6 min read
Databases
How to Move Data Between SQLite MySQL and PostgreSQL
Move data between SQLite, MySQL and PostgreSQL from the shell: dumps and their dialect problems, CSV as the neutral format, type mapping, pgloader and checks.
6 min read
Databases
How to Run pg isready and mysqladmin ping in Health Checks
Check database readiness with pg_isready and mysqladmin ping: exit codes, Docker healthchecks, scripts and monitoring, and what they do not test.
6 min read
Databases
How to Use Docker for Throwaway Databases in Scripts
Use Docker for throwaway databases in scripts: random localhost port, readiness wait, fixtures, cleanup with a trap and tmpfs for speed.
6 min read
Cron and Scheduling
How to Schedule Database Maintenance Jobs the Safe Way
Schedule database maintenance jobs safely: backups, vacuum and analyze, optimize, index checks, off-peak timing, locks, runtime limits and monitoring results.
6 min read
Databases
PostgreSQL Error Role Does Not Exist and How to Prevent It
Fix PostgreSQL role does not exist: createuser, psql defaults to your OS user, the missing database error, quoting case-sensitive names and idempotent setup.
6 min read
Databases
How to Create Users and Grants From the Shell Safely
Create database users and grants from the shell for PostgreSQL and MySQL: least privilege, passwords kept off the command line, idempotent scripts and checks.
7 min read
Databases
PostgreSQL Error Peer Authentication Failed With Every Cause
Fix PostgreSQL peer authentication failed for user: pg_hba.conf rules, Unix socket versus TCP, matching OS and database user names, and a safe change.
6 min read
Databases
mysqldump vs mydumper vs XtraBackup and When to Use Each
Compare mysqldump, mydumper and Percona XtraBackup: logical versus physical backup, speed, consistency, locking, restore time and when to use each.
6 min read
Databases
Why a Backup You Never Restored Is Not a Backup Step by Step
Why a backup you never restored is not a backup: the ways backups fail silently, and a short routine to restore, verify and monitor them.
6 min read
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