pg_start_backup> creates a backup label> file,
called backup_label>, in the cluster directory with
information about your backup, including the start time and label
- string.
+ string. The file is critical to the integrity of the backup, should
+ you need to restore from it.
The backup label file includes the label string you gave to
pg_start_backup>, as well as the time at which
pg_start_backup> was run, and the name of the starting WAL
- file. In case of confusion it is
- therefore possible to look inside a backup dump file and determine
- exactly which backup session the dump file came from.
+ file. In case of confusion it is therefore possible to look inside a
+ backup dump file and determine exactly which backup session the dump file
+ came from. However, this file is not merely for your information; its
+ presence and contents are critical to the proper operation of the system's
+ recovery process.