Exploring new Postgres features and navigating common challenges for DBAs

EDB’s insights at PG Conf NYC

EDB is committed to sharing our Postgres knowledge and expertise with the vibrant open source community at events and conferences around the world. We’re proud to be part of the Postgres community, building and supporting the world’s #1 database to align with business objectives and strategic priorities for the enterprise of the future. 

This year, we have four EDB Postgres experts attending PGConf NYC sharing insights on Postgres Lock Manager, Incremental Backup, and DBA workarounds for enhanced Postgres management. We’re looking forward to connecting with the Postgres community and sharing insights, especially on the heels of the release of Postgres 17. 

EDB Sessions at PG Conf NYC
Session: Incremental Backup Speaker: EDB VP, Chief Database Scientist Robert Haas Monday, September 30th, 4:30 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.
Session: Unlocking the Postgres Lock Manager Speaker: EDB Vice President, Postgres Evangelist Bruce Momjian Tuesday, October 1st, 2:00 p.m.–2:50 p.m.
Session: Beyond PostgreSQL 17: 7 DBA Workarounds for Enhanced Management Speaker: EDB Customer Experience Technical Fellow Vibhor Kumar Tuesday, October 1st, 3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Session: Making the Best Use of Modern SSL Speaker: EDB VP, Chief Architect, Database Servers Peter Eisentraut Wednesday, October 2nd, 10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Even if you can’t attend PGConf NYC 2024 you can still learn from our experts. Keep reading below for a summary of our expert talks and discover the latest innovations from the leader in Postgres. 

Incremental Backup

Speaker: EDB VP, Chief Database Scientist Robert Haas

In this talk, EDB VP, Chief Database Scientist Robert Haas will discuss the Incremental Backup feature he developed for PostgreSQL 17. The talk will explore how we determine what data has changed, and why the chosen approach was selected. Robert will also review in detail how incremental backups can be taken and restored, and why things work as they do. The talk will briefly touch on use cases for the Incremental Backup feature and possible future work in this area.
 

Take a Deep Dive into Incremental Backups with Robert Haas

In his upcoming talk, EDB VP, Chief Database Scientist Robert Haas will explore the intricacies of the new Incremental Backup feature—a significant enhancement he built for PostgreSQL that is being introduced in the upcoming PG17 release. As a prominent figure in PostgreSQL development, Robert is eager to share the details of this feature with attendees at PGConf NYC 2024. 

Why Incremental Backups?

Incremental backups are designed to streamline the backup process by capturing only the changes made since the last backup. This approach drastically reduces the time and storage required compared to full backups, which can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Robert’s motivation for focusing on incremental backups stems from his commitment to improving PostgreSQL’s core functionalities and offering users more integrated solutions. Traditionally, PostgreSQL users had to rely on external tools like PG Backrest or Barman for incremental backups. With this new feature integrated directly into PostgreSQL, users can now enjoy a more seamless and unified backup experience. This integration simplifies the backup process and ensures that the feature is universally accessible, irrespective of the backup tool in use.

Key Takeaways:

• Integration into Core PostgreSQL: This feature brings incremental backup capabilities into PostgreSQL's core, offering a standardized solution without needing additional tools.
• Enhanced User Experience: By reducing reliance on external tools, PostgreSQL users benefit from a more straightforward and reliable backup process.
• Future-Proofing: This move is also a strategic response to the competitive landscape, ensuring that PostgreSQL remains a strong contender against proprietary solutions from major cloud providers.

Robert’s talk promises to offer valuable insights into how this feature works, its benefits, and its potential impact on your database management practices.

Unlocking the Postgres Lock Manager

Speaker: EDB Vice President, Postgres Evangelist Bruce Momjian

Locking is critical for providing high concurrency for any database — you cannot fully utilize your hardware if locking is throttling its use. This talk explores all aspects of locking in Postgres by showing queries and their locks; covered lock types include row, table, shared, exclusive, and advisory lock types. The high concurrency provided by Multiversion Concurrency Control (MVCC) is also covered.

Bruce's Insights on Unlocking the PostgreSQL Lock Manager

This year at PGConf NYC 2024, EDB Vice President, Postgres Evangelist Bruce Momjian will be addressing a fundamental yet often overlooked aspect of PostgreSQL—its locking mechanisms. In his session, titled “Unlocking the PostgreSQL Lock Manager,” Bruce will provide an in-depth exploration of PostgreSQL’s locking system, which is crucial for managing concurrent operations within the database.

Understanding Lock Management

Concurrency control is a cornerstone of relational databases, allowing multiple transactions to be processed simultaneously without interfering with each other. PostgreSQL’s lock manager plays a vital role in this process, and Bruce will guide attendees through the different types of locks and their functions, including table-level, row-level, schema-level, share locks, and exclusive locks.

Why This Matters:

• Improved Troubleshooting: Understanding how locks work can help DBAs troubleshoot and resolve issues related to deadlocks and performance bottlenecks.
• Enhanced Performance: Proper management and optimization of locks can lead to more efficient database operations and improved overall system performance.
• Practical Insights: Bruce’s session will include practical examples and use cases, making complex concepts more accessible and actionable for attendees.

Bruce’s talk, which has been updated and refined over the years, aims to provide both new and seasoned PostgreSQL users with a comprehensive understanding of lock management. Whether you’re dealing with deadlocks, serialization failures, or just want to get a clearer picture of PostgreSQL’s concurrency control, this session will be an invaluable resource.

Beyond PostgreSQL 17: 7 DBA Workarounds for Enhanced Management

Speaker: EDB Customer Experience Technical Fellow Vibhor Kumar

While PostgreSQL 17 boasts significant advancements, some DBA-centric features still remain on the horizon. This presentation delves into seven key areas where DBAs might encounter limitations and offers practical workarounds to navigate these challenges effectively. Discover how to optimize some administrative limitations and more, all while maximizing the potential of your PostgreSQL 17 environment.

Unlocking PostgreSQL 17: Vibhor Kumar’s Insight into DBA Workarounds

You’ve heard the buzz about all the new features and fixes coming with PostgreSQL 17. However, as with every upgrade, there are always elements that simply don’t make the cut. EDB Customer Experience Technical Fellow Vibhor Kumar’s upcoming talk at  PGConf NYC, “Beyond PostgreSQL 17: 7 DBA Workarounds for Enhanced Management,” will address these very gaps and offer practical solutions for Database Administrators (DBAs) and developers.

The core idea

This informative and insightful session explores various fixes and advancements for PostgreSQL 17 that, while highly anticipated, didn't make it into this release. His talk serves two key functions: identifying what’s missing and offering helpful suggestions for how DBAs and developers can work around these limitations effectively. Vibhor aims to equip his audience with actionable insights and strategies to work around any limitations they may encounter and manage their databases more effectively.

What you’ll learn

1. Identifying the Gaps: The talk will start by examining features and capabilities that many users had hoped to see in PostgreSQL 17 but didn’t. Vibhor will break down why these features were absent and how their absence impacts database management and performance.
2. Practical Workarounds: For each missing feature, Vibhor will present practical workarounds. These aren’t just theoretical solutions but actionable techniques that DBAs can implement to address specific needs. For instance, if certain replication capabilities are lacking, Vibhor will suggest alternative methods or tools to achieve similar results.
3. Real-World Examples: To ensure that attendees come away with actionable insights, this talk will provide concrete examples, such as handling online vacuum processes and rolling upgrades. Vibhor will discuss how these tasks can be managed within the current PostgreSQL environment and what adjustments are necessary.
4. Comparative Insights: The session will also touch upon features offered by other database systems, such as Oracle and SQL Server, and how PostgreSQL users can bridge the gap. This comparative analysis will help attendees understand what PostgreSQL might be missing and how they can leverage available tools and techniques to mitigate these gaps.
5. Future Outlook: Vibhor will offer insights into what might be included in future PostgreSQL releases and how developers can prepare for these upcoming changes. This forward-looking perspective will help attendees stay ahead of the curve and plan their database strategies accordingly.

Why This Matters

In a technical conference setting, where the focus often leans towards showcasing new features and enhancements, Vibhor’s approach is refreshingly pragmatic. By addressing the “reality” of database management—what’s missing and how to deal with it—he provides a grounded perspective that is invaluable for DBAs and developers who face these challenges daily.

Looking Ahead

Vibhor Kumar’s talk is not just a one-off; it reflects a broader trend in how technical discussions are evolving. By focusing on practical, real-world applications and solutions, he is setting a precedent for future talks and presentations. This approach will undoubtedly resonate with professionals who are eager to tackle everyday issues rather than just theoretical advancements. Vibhor’s session promises to be both enlightening and practical, offering attendees the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of PostgreSQL 17’s limitations and how to navigate them effectively so that you can manage your PostgreSQL databases with greater efficiency.

Making the Best Use of Modern SSL

Speaker: VP, Chief Architect, Database Servers Peter Eisentraut

As the landscape of database management evolves, so too do the technologies that ensure our data remains secure. In this session, EDB VP and Chief Architect for Database Servers Peter Eisentraut will provide an essential guide for developers and DBAs navigating the complexities of SSL in PostgreSQL.

The SSL Landscape: A Historical Perspective

SSL support in PostgreSQL has a rich history, with its roots reaching back to some of the earliest implementations of secure communication. However, as regulations and security threats grow more complex, relying on outdated configurations simply isn’t an option. This session will walk attendees through the evolution of SSL, outlining how the latest PostgreSQL versions have adapted to meet the needs of today’s security landscape.

Key Takeaways:

This talk will focus on practical applications, regulatory compliance, and the latest advancements. Our goal is to provide actionable insights that can transform your approach to SSL. Whether you're a seasoned DBA or a developer looking to strengthen your database security practices, this talk will provide the knowledge and tools necessary to make the best use of modern SSL. 

• Modern Setup and Configuration - Discover practical insights into setting up SSL for PostgreSQL in a way that is both modern and robust. This talk will guide attendees through which versions and configuration options to prioritize—shedding light on those that may be best left behind. Learn how to streamline your SSL deployments, ensuring they are not only secure but also efficient.
• Protocol Versions and Cipher Selection - Understanding which protocol versions and ciphers to use is crucial for maintaining robust security. In this talk, Peter will discuss the intricacies of these selections, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions that balance performance with compliance.
• Keys, Certificates, and Compliance - Dealing with keys and certificates can be daunting, especially with the evolving regulatory landscape. This session will tackle common challenges and present strategies for managing SSL certificates effectively, ensuring that your PostgreSQL environment meets the necessary security standards and compliance requirements.
• Impact of Connection Proxies and Poolers - The integration of connection proxies and poolers, such as PgBouncer, can significantly influence your SSL deployment. Explore how these tools interact with SSL and offer best practices for seamless integration that enhances both security and performance.
• New Features in PostgreSQL 17 - Looking ahead to what’s on the horizon with PostgreSQL 17, Peter will highlight new features that promise to make SSL deployments not just more efficient, but also more secure. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about innovations that could shape your future projects.

About PGConf NYC

PGConf NYC 2024 is a 3-day conference packed with networking opportunities, fresh insights, and best practices for using PostgreSQL, the world's most advanced open source database. Join us in New York City and connect with other developers, DBAs, administrators, decisions makers, and contributors to the open source PostgreSQL community!

We hope to see you at PGConf NYC this year, from September 30th - October 2nd, 2024 at Convene 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York. Click here to visit the event website and learn more.