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diff --git a/doc/src/FAQ/FAQ.html b/doc/src/FAQ/FAQ.html index 6ba6dea2d8c..c22dc7ef668 100644 --- a/doc/src/FAQ/FAQ.html +++ b/doc/src/FAQ/FAQ.html @@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ alink="#0000ff"> <H1>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PostgreSQL</H1> - <P>Last updated: Thu May 18 23:52:32 EDT 2006</P> + <P>Last updated: Mon Oct 9 20:28:14 EDT 2006</P> <P>Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (<A href= - "mailto:pgman@candle.pha.pa.us">pgman@candle.pha.pa.us</A>) + "mailto:bruce@momjian.us">bruce@momjian.us</A>) </P> <P>The most recent version of this document can be viewed at <A href= @@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ <A href="#item1.3">1.3</A>) What is the copyright of PostgreSQL?<BR> <A href="#item1.4">1.4</A>) What platforms does PostgreSQL support?<BR> <A href="#item1.5">1.5</A>) Where can I get PostgreSQL?<BR> - <A href="#item1.6">1.6</A>) What is the latest release?<BR> + <A href="#item1.6">1.6</A>) What is the most recent release?<BR> <A href="#item1.7">1.7</A>) Where can I get support?<BR> <A href="#item1.8">1.8</A>) How do I submit a bug report?<BR> <A href="#item1.9">1.9</A>) How do I find out about known bugs or @@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ <A href="#item3.4">3.4</A>) What debugging features are available?<BR> <A href="#item3.5">3.5</A>) Why do I get <I>"Sorry, too many clients"</I> when trying to connect?<BR> - <A href="#item3.6">3.6</A>) Why do I need to do a dump and restore - to upgrade PostgreSQL releases?<BR> + <A href="#item3.6">3.6</A> What is the upgrade process for PostgreSQL?<BR> <A href="#item3.7">3.7</A>) What computer hardware should I use?<BR> @@ -200,7 +199,7 @@ instructions.</P> <P>PostgreSQL also runs natively on Microsoft Windows NT-based operating - systems like Win2000, WinXP, and Win2003. A prepackaged installer is + systems like Win2000 SP4, WinXP, and Win2003. A prepackaged installer is available at <a href= "http://pgfoundry.org/projects/pginstaller"> http://pgfoundry.org/projects/pginstaller</a>. MSDOS-based versions of Windows (Win95, Win98, WinMe) can run PostgreSQL using Cygwin.</P> @@ -218,7 +217,7 @@ <A href="ftp://ftp.PostgreSQL.org/pub/"> ftp://ftp.PostgreSQL.org/pub/</A>.</P> - <H3 id="item1.6">1.6) What is the latest release?</H3> + <H3 id="item1.6">1.6) What is the most recent release?</H3> <P>The latest release of PostgreSQL is version 8.1.5.</P> @@ -241,8 +240,8 @@ (<I>#postgresqlfr</I>). There is also a PostgreSQL channel on EFNet.</P> <P>A list of commercial support companies is available at <A href= - "http://techdocs.postgresql.org/companies.php"> - http://techdocs.postgresql.org/companies.php</A>.</P> + "http://www.postgresql.org/support/professional_support"> + http://www.postgresql.org/support/professional_support</A>.</P> <H3 id="item1.8">1.8) How do I submit a bug report?</H3> @@ -472,9 +471,10 @@ <H3 id="item2.3">2.3) Does PostgreSQL have a graphical user interface?</H3> - <P>Yes, see <a href="http://techdocs.postgresql.org/guides/GUITools"> - http://techdocs.postgresql.org/guides/GUITools</a> for a - detailed list.</P> + <P>There are a large number of GUI Tools that are available for PostgreSQL + from both commercial and open source developers. A detailed list can be + found in the <A href="http://www.postgresql.org/docs/techdocs.54"> + PostgreSQL Community Documentation</A></P> <HR> @@ -544,11 +544,11 @@ <DT><B>Hardware Selection</B></DT> - <DD>The effect of hardware on performance is detailed in <a - href="http://candle.pha.pa.us/main/writings/pgsql/hw_performance/index.html"> - http://candle.pha.pa.us/main/writings/pgsql/hw_performance/index.html</a> and + <DD>The effect of hardware on performance is detailed in <a href="http://www.powerpostgresql.com/PerfList/"> - http://www.powerpostgresql.com/PerfList/</a>. + http://www.powerpostgresql.com/PerfList/</a> and <a + href="http://momjian.us/main/writings/pgsql/hw_performance/index.html"> + http://momjian.us/main/writings/pgsql/hw_performance/index.html</a>. <BR> <BR> </DD> @@ -570,16 +570,23 @@ <I>max_connections</I> value in <I>postgresql.conf</I> and restarting the <I>postmaster</I>.</P> - <H3 id="item3.6">3.6) Why do I need to do a dump and restore - to upgrade between major PostgreSQL releases?</H3> + <H3 id="item3.6">3.6) What is the upgrade process for PostgreSQL?</H3> - <P>The PostgreSQL team makes only small changes between minor releases, - so upgrading from 7.4.0 to 7.4.1 does not require a dump and restore. - However, major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the internal + <P>The PostgreSQL team makes only bug fixes in minor releases, + so, for example, upgrading from 7.4.8 to 7.4.9 does not require + a dump and restore; merely stop the database server, install + the updated binaries, and restart the server.</P> + + <P>All users should upgrade to the most recent minor release as + soon as it is available. While every upgrade has some risk, + PostgreSQL minor releases are designed to fix only common bugs + with the least risk. The community considers <i>not</i> upgrading + more risky that upgrading.</P> + + <P>Major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the internal format of system tables and data files. These changes are often complex, - so we don't maintain backward compatibility for data files. A dump outputs - data in a generic format that can then be loaded in using the new internal - format.</P> + so we don't maintain backward compatibility for data files. A dump/reload + of the database is required for major upgrades.</P> <H3 id="item3.7">3.7) What computer hardware should I use?</H3> @@ -687,7 +694,7 @@ table?</TD><TD>unlimited</TD></TR> <P>One limitation is that indexes can not be created on columns longer than about 2,000 characters. Fortunately, such indexes are - rarely needed. Uniqueness is best guaranteed by a funtion index + rarely needed. Uniqueness is best guaranteed by a function index of an MD5 hash of the long column, and full text indexing allows for searching of words within the column.</P> @@ -805,8 +812,8 @@ table?</TD><TD>unlimited</TD></TR> FROM tab WHERE lower(col) = 'abc'; </PRE> - This will not use an standard index. However, if you create a - expresssion index, it will be used: + This will not use an standard index. However, if you create an + expression index, it will be used: <PRE> CREATE INDEX tabindex ON tab (lower(col)); </PRE> @@ -950,7 +957,7 @@ length</TD></TR> <P>Every row that is created in PostgreSQL gets a unique <SMALL>OID</SMALL> unless created <SMALL>WITHOUT OIDS</SMALL>. - O<SMALL>ID</SMALL>s are autotomatically assigned unique 4-byte + O<SMALL>ID</SMALL>s are automatically assigned unique 4-byte integers that are unique across the entire installation. However, they overflow at 4 billion, and then the O<SMALL>ID</SMALL>s start being duplicated. PostgreSQL uses <SMALL>OID</SMALL>s to link its |