description Percona XtraBackup Overview
Percona XtraBackup is an open-source physical backup tool for MySQL and compatible database environments. Physical backup means copying database files rather than exporting each row as a set of SQL statements. It supports hot backups for supported InnoDB workloads, allowing protection while the database remains in use instead of requiring a complete service shutdown for the main backup operation. Database administrators use it when planning recovery for systems where lengthy backup outages would be disruptive.
Its distinction is file-level database backup with preparation steps that make the copied data ready for restoration. Compatibility must be checked against the database version and storage engines in use. XtraBackup is not a PostgreSQL backup utility, and its non-blocking behavior should not be generalized to every engine or operation.
help Percona XtraBackup FAQ
Is Percona XtraBackup free to use?
Yes, Percona XtraBackup is free and open-source software distributed under the GPLv2 license. Percona offers it to the community for free alongside commercial support subscriptions for enterprises that require dedicated technical assistance.
How does Percona XtraBackup perform non-blocking database backups?
XtraBackup creates physical backups by directly copying the database data files while constantly monitoring the database's redo log. This allows it to capture concurrent transactions without locking the tables, ensuring you do not experience any database downtime.
Can Percona XtraBackup backup PostgreSQL databases?
Yes, Percona expanded the tool's capabilities, and it fully supports backing up PostgreSQL databases. It provides features like point-in-time recovery and parallel compression specifically tailored for large PostgreSQL deployments.
How does Percona XtraBackup compare to mysqldump?
While `mysqldump` creates a logical backup by dumping SQL statements, XtraBackup physically copies the binary data files. This makes XtraBackup significantly faster for large databases and allows for rapid restoration without re-executing queries.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
