Postgres Replication: Streamlining Data Transfer Between Databases

Name: Airbyte — Postgres Replication: Streamlining Data Transfer Between Databases
Author: Airbyte

Experience swift Postgres replication, effortlessly transferring data between databases in just 10 minutes.

10 minIntermediate

Thalia Barrera

updatedJuly 20, 2021

connectors used

Postgres

In this tutorial, you learned about PostgreSQL native replication and how to synchronize two Postgres databases with Airbyte. Apart from being straightforward, Airbyte is also highly flexible when it comes to selecting different synchronization methods for your replication.

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What are the different replication models in Postgres?

PostgreSQL supports two main replication models: Physical (Streaming) Replication, which replicates the entire database cluster at the block level using WAL shipping, and Logical Replication, which replicates specific tables using a publish/subscribe model. For streaming replication, we can use either synchronous or asynchronous modes, where synchronous ensures data is written to one or more standby servers before committing.

How does PostgreSQL logical replication work?

Logical replication in PostgreSQL works through a publish/subscribe model where publishers (source) define publications (sets of tables) using CREATE PUBLICATION, and subscribers (destinations) subscribe to these publications using CREATE SUBSCRIPTION. The publisher decodes changes from the WAL into a logical format, and subscribers apply these changes. This allows for selective replication of tables and is what Airbyte leverages for its CDC (Change Data Capture) implementation.

What is the best replication method for large databases?

For large databases (especially those >500GB), CDC using logical replication is the most efficient method. This is because it only replicates actual data changes rather than entire tables, significantly reducing network bandwidth and processing overhead. The logical replication method tracks changes using Write-Ahead Logs (WAL), ensuring minimal impact on the source database's performance.

How do I handle power outage issues during PostgreSQL replication

Airbyte's checkpointing feature in PostgreSQL replication helps maintain data integrity. Wherever a sync stops, the next time the Source attempts to extract data it can pick up where it left off and not have to go back to the beginning.

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