---
id: 388a7ead-11b0-4eef-8b47-709edb852c10
---

# Scheduled PostgreSQL data backups failing.
---

This incident type refers to a situation where scheduled PostgreSQL data backups are not being performed successfully. This could be caused by a variety of reasons such as incorrect configuration, hardware or network issues, or software bugs. As a result, important data may not be backed up as expected, which could lead to data loss in case of a disaster or system failure.

### Parameters
```shell
export VERSION="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_SCRIPT="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_LOCATION="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_SERVER="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_PORT="PLACEHOLDER"
```

## Debug

### Check if PostgreSQL service is running
```shell
systemctl status postgresql
```

### Check PostgreSQL logs for any errors
```shell
tail -n 50 /var/log/postgresql/postgresql-${VERSION}.log
```

### Check the backup schedule configuration
```shell
cat /etc/cron.d/${BACKUP_SCRIPT}
```

### Check backup script logs for any errors
```shell
tail -n 50 /var/log/${BACKUP_SCRIPT}.log
```

### Check disk space on the backup location
```shell
df -h ${BACKUP_LOCATION}
```

### Check if backup server is reachable
```shell
nc -z ${BACKUP_SERVER} ${BACKUP_PORT}
```

## Repair

### Clean up the PostgreSQL backups more than a week old to free disk space
```shell


#!/bin/bash



# Set the parameters

BACKUP_DIR=${BACKUP_LOCATION}

DAYS_TO_KEEP=7



# Clean up old backups

find $BACKUP_DIR -type f -mtime +$DAYS_TO_KEEP -delete



# Print a log message

echo "Old PostgreSQL backups cleaned up successfully."


```

This incident type refers to a situation where scheduled PostgreSQL data backups are not being performed successfully. This could be caused by a variety of reasons such as incorrect configuration, hardware or network issues, or software bugs. As a result, important data may not be backed up as expected, which could lead to data loss in case of a disaster or system failure.


```shell
export VERSION="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_SCRIPT="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_LOCATION="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_SERVER="PLACEHOLDER"

export BACKUP_PORT="PLACEHOLDER"
```


### Check if PostgreSQL service is running

```shell
systemctl status postgresql
```

### Check PostgreSQL logs for any errors

```shell
tail -n 50 /var/log/postgresql/postgresql-${VERSION}.log
```

### Check the backup schedule configuration

```shell
cat /etc/cron.d/${BACKUP_SCRIPT}
```

### Check backup script logs for any errors

```shell
tail -n 50 /var/log/${BACKUP_SCRIPT}.log
```

### Check disk space on the backup location

```shell
df -h ${BACKUP_LOCATION}
```

### Check if backup server is reachable

```shell
nc -z ${BACKUP_SERVER} ${BACKUP_PORT}
```


### Clean up the PostgreSQL backups more than a week old to free disk space

```shell


#!/bin/bash



# Set the parameters

BACKUP_DIR=${BACKUP_LOCATION}

DAYS_TO_KEEP=7



# Clean up old backups

find $BACKUP_DIR -type f -mtime +$DAYS_TO_KEEP -delete



# Print a log message

echo "Old PostgreSQL backups cleaned up successfully."


```


Scheduled PostgreSQL data backups failing.

Overview

Parameters

Debug

Check if PostgreSQL service is running

Check PostgreSQL logs for any errors

Check the backup schedule configuration

Check backup script logs for any errors

Check disk space on the backup location

Check if backup server is reachable

Repair

Clean up the PostgreSQL backups more than a week old to free disk space

Learn more

Related Runbooks

Support