[DBA 3]
PostgreSQL
Backups and Replication
đź’» 5 live online sessions, 3h30m each
🎤 Includes: Q&A, theory and live demo
🏷️ Price: €850 before taxes
🗓️ Dates: 22-26 June; 16-20 November
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PREREQUISITES
To participate in this course, you must either have completed [DBA2] PostgreSQL Advanced or possess equivalent hands-on experience.
For details see the course T&Cs.
The training is aimed at PostgreSQL DBA who already have solid operational experience and want to deepen their expertise in data protection, replication, and high availability strategies.
- Manage backups with PITR tools
- Maintain one or more standby servers
- Replicate PostgreSQL data both physically and logically
- Understand failover procedures
- Be aware of the pitfalls of automated failover
What You’ll Learn
This course is designed to equip you with the practical skills to manage PostgreSQL backups and replication for high availability and data protection. You’ll learn how to use PITR tools, maintain standby servers, set up physical and logical replication, and handle failover procedures — while understanding the risks and challenges of automated failover.
Tools for PostgreSQL backups
Understanding, comparing, and choosing the right backup solution for your needs
This chapter begins with a recap of point-in-time recovery (PITR) fundamentals to show why tooling is essential for reliable recovery. It then explores the main tools available for PostgreSQL backups, with a focus on their capabilities, differences, and practical use cases.
Highlights include:
- Understanding why backup tooling is essential for reliable recovery
- Overview of Barman, WAL-G, and pgBackRest
- How each tool handles WAL archiving, encryption, compression, and incremental backups
- Comparing features to choose the right fit for your infrastructure
Streaming Replication in PostgreSQL
Introduction to PostgreSQL replication mechanisms with a practical focus on setting up and managing a streaming standby.
This chapter explains PostgreSQL’s replication architecture, focusing on streaming replication and related physical, logical, and cascading replication concepts.
Highlights include:
- Key replication terminology and patterns (asymmetric/symmetric, synchronous/asynchronous)
- How WAL-based replication works, including log shipping and streaming
- Step-by-step streaming replication setup (primary and standby)
- Standby promotion, failover safety, and re-synchronisation
- Monitoring replication health, lag, and conflicts
- Preventing standby dropout with WAL archiving or replication slots
Logical Replication in PostgreSQL
This chapter introduces PostgreSQL’s logical replication. It explains how logical decoding works, what can and cannot be replicated, and how to configure and operate publications and subscriptions.
Highlights include:
- Key differences between physical and logical replication
- Architecture, terminology, and the streaming process
- Setup steps: creating publications and subscriptions
- Supported granularity: by table, schema, row, or operation
- Limitations (DDL, sequences, large objects) and how to work around them
- Monitoring and troubleshooting replication errors
- Using logical replication for major PostgreSQL upgrades
High Availability and automated failover best practices
This chapter introduces the principles and best practices of high availability in PostgreSQL. It explains why availability matters, how to set clear objectives, and what compromises often arise between service continuity and data durability.
Highlights include:
- Service vs. data availability and their trade-offs
- RPO and RTO as key objectives to define
- Backups, streaming replication, and automated failover as technical means
- Risks of automation, such as split-brain and the added operational complexity following failover
- Anti split-brain mechanisms: fencing, quorum, watchdog
- Overview of major PostgreSQL HA solutions
- Practical introduction to Patroni operations
Format and Schedule
Course Format & Requirements
5 live sessions (3.5 hours each)
Participants must attend all five sessions to receive a certificate of attendance.
Sessions are conducted in English via Zoom. Please ensure you have the latest version installed.
The course combines theoretical slides with live demos and includes a live Q&A during each session.
A 10-minute break halfway through each session.
Sessions will not be recorded.
Sessions Schedule
⚠️ This course will be delivered twice in 2026.
Please choose one session series: June or November.
June Sessions
Monday, 22 June 10:00–13:30
Tuesday, 23 June 10:00–13:30
Wednesday, 24 June 10:00–13:30
Thursday, 25 June 10:00–13:30
Friday, 26 June 10:00–13:30
November Sessions
Monday, 16 November 10:00–13:30
Tuesday, 17 November 10:00–13:30
Wednesday, 18 November 10:00–13:30
Thursday, 19 November 10:00–13:30
Friday, 20 November 10:00–13:30
Register now!
How registration works
Complete the registration form below with your details.
An invoice and payment instructions will be sent to your inbox.
You can pay by credit card or direct bank transfer.
Your spot on the course is confirmed once payment has been received.
Course details
Course duration: 5 days, 5 sessions; 3.5 hours each
Course cost: €850 before taxes
đź“© If you have any questions or issues, please contact us at [email protected]
Instructors
Stefan has close to 15 years of expertise in the database space, boasting extensive experience in client support, maintenance, and architectural consulting.
He is a recognised PostgreSQL contributor and a contributor to pgBackRest, a reliable backup and restore solution for PostgreSQL.
Senior PostgreSQL Expert
PostgreSQL Consultant