
#********************************************************
# Program....: snapshot.tcl
# Author.....: Dan Gowin
# Date.......: 12/17/98
# Notice.....: Copyright(c) 1998, Rakekniven, All Rights Reserved.
# Note.......: This is a scripting program designed to
# ...........: generate "borne" shell scripts for PostgreSQL
# ...........: replication processes. PostgreSQL client
# ...........: software must be loaded to execute the
# ...........: generated script.
# ...........: Version 0.7
# 
#********************************************************

Welcome! pgSnapShop was developed by Rakekniven Internet
Technologies. Snapshot was developed as a database replication
tool for RakenSQL/PostgreSQL database servers. Even though
Snapshot was specially developed for Rakekniven Commercial
servers it works fine for publically available PostgreSQL
databases. Snapshot is designed to collect and form all
necessary information for forming a borne shell script that
will when executed replicate a number of databases if not
complete servers from one database to another database on the
same server, if not from server to server. The scripts formed
can be run manually or executed by the cron daemon at a 
specified time for the purpose of mirroring a Postgres database.
Originally this tool was was designed to allow users an easy
way of migrating data from one Rakekniven database server
to another server, whenever a customer upgraded to a newer
server. This tool could also be used to perform a programed
backup of multiple Postgres servers via internet protocols.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR SNAPSHOT

Snapshot replication tool was writen in the Tcl/Tk scripting
language, So Tcl/Tk 8.0 is required. It is also assumed that
PostgreSQL v6.2 or greater has been installed on the host that
will be used to execute the Snapshot script that Snapshot
produces as output.

Snapshot provides a editing environment for the collection
of information from the sending server to the recieving
server. This information includes the sending host name
(IP or DNS), the recieving host name, the recieving port
number (default 5432), recieving port number, sending 
database (default All), recieving database (default template1),
and the associated user id's and passwords for DBA accounts
on the two servers in questions.

Snapshot recongnises the key word "All" as meaning to dump
all database into a remote server. And the recieving database
"template1" is a default database that can be logged into
that all Postgres database have. If a respective database
does not exist on a target database server the template1
database is the only generically available database to be
logged into. The "All" keyword tells snapshot to dump all
server information to include user information and database
creation instruction in a SQL generic format. This could
also possibly be used to export Postgres databases to
other commercial database servers.

For more information please consult the Postgres documentation
manuals.

Dan Gowin
kraken@blueriver.net
http://www.coolsql.com
Rakekniven Internet Technologies.
1999
2/2/1999


