How to Enable Archive Log Mode in PostgreSQL 15

• Pradip
• 02 Sep, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 Mins Read

How to Enable Archive Log Mode in PostgreSQL 15

How to Enable Archive Log Mode in PostgreSQL 15

Enabling archive log mode in PostgreSQL is crucial for backup and recovery strategies. It allows you to store Write-Ahead Log (WAL) files safely, which are essential for point-in-time recovery and replication setups. Below is a step-by-step guide to enable archive logging in PostgreSQL 15 using a custom archive command path.

Step 1: Check Current Archive Settings

First, connect to your PostgreSQL instance and check the current archiving-related parameters:

SHOW archive_mode;

SHOW archive_command;

SHOW wal_level;

This helps you understand the existing configuration before making changes.

Step 2: Set Required Parameters

Enable archiving and configure the archive command. Run the following commands in your PostgreSQL session:

ALTER SYSTEM SET archive_mode = 'on';

ALTER SYSTEM SET archive_command = 'cp %p /var/lib/pgsql/15/data/archive/%f';

ALTER SYSTEM SET wal_level = 'replica';

• archive_mode = ‘on’ → Turns on WAL archiving.
• archive_command → Defines how WAL files are copied to the archive location. Here, %p represents the path of the WAL file, and %f is the filename.
• wal_level = ‘replica’ → Ensures WAL files contain sufficient information for archiving and replication.

Step 3: Restart PostgreSQL

For these changes to take effect, restart PostgreSQL:

Using systemctl:

sudo systemctl restart postgresql-15

Or using pg_ctl:

Step 4: Verify Settings

After restart, verify the updated parameters:

SHOW archive_mode;

SHOW archive_command;

SHOW wal_level;

You should see:

• archive_mode = on
• archive_command showing your configured path
• wal_level = replica

Step 5: Test Archiving

To confirm archiving is working, force a WAL switch:

SELECT pg_switch_wal();

Then, check the archive directory:

You should see newly generated WAL files.

Final Notes

• Ensure the archive directory exists before enabling archiving:
  mkdir -p /var/lib/pgsql/15/data/archive

  chown postgres:postgres /var/lib/pgsql/15/data/archive

  chmod 700 /var/lib/pgsql/15/data/archive
• If PostgreSQL cannot write to the directory, archiving will fail.

By completing these steps, you have successfully enabled archive log mode in PostgreSQL 15. This setup ensures your WAL files are safely archived, supporting recovery and replication strategies.

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