Using VSS with a PostgreSQL Database

First ensure you set up backups of your database per: https://ingensoftware.zendesk.com/knowledge/editor/01KWCJ3H8B459GJP75Y8P28VA1/en-us?brand_id=360002303892

Then ensure your VSS solution is excluding the folder of your live database.  This is due to PostgreSQL not having a native write-style VSS integration.  Instead have your VSS maintain snapshots of the backup folder.

If you must use a VSS solution on the live database instead of the recommended method, then ensure it captures all required PostgreSQL files at the same point in time.

That means:

• PostgreSQL data directory
• pg_wal
• any tablespaces
• configuration files
• all involved volumes snapped consistently together

In this case use the following steps:

1. Enable WAL archiving.
2. Start PostgreSQL backup mode by running this statement: 
   SELECT pg_backup_start(label => 'vss-backup', fast => false);
3. Take the VSS snapshot.
4. Stop PostgreSQL backup mode by running this statement:
   SELECT * FROM pg_backup_stop(wait_for_archive => true);
5. Make sure all required WAL files are archived.
6. Test restore before counting on this as a disaster recovery solution.