PostgreSQL with Barman Backup Setup Guide

PostgreSQL with Barman Backup Setup Guide - Printable Version

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PostgreSQL with Barman Backup Setup Guide - santosh - 04-07-2026

PostgreSQL with Barman Backup Setup Guide

Environment Setup

PostgreSQL Database Server IP: 10.10.x.x
Barman Backup Server IP: 10.10.x.x
PostgreSQL Version: 14
Barman Version: 3.11.1
OS: Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04

Architecture Overview

Code:
[ PostgreSQL Server 10.10.x.x ]  ----WAL Archive---->  [ Barman Server 10.10.x.x ]

        (Database)                                          (Backup)

Step 1 - Install PostgreSQL
Run on: PostgreSQL Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo apt update

sudo apt install postgresql-14

Step 2 - Configure postgresql.conf
Run on: PostgreSQL Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo nano /etc/postgresql/14/main/postgresql.conf

Add the following lines:

Code:
wal_level = replica

archive_mode = on

archive_command = 'rsync -a %p barman@BARMAN_IP:/var/lib/barman/main-db-server/incoming/%f'

max_wal_senders = 3

wal_keep_size = 256MB

Step 3 - Configure pg_hba.conf
Run on: PostgreSQL Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo nano /etc/postgresql/14/main/pg_hba.conf

Add the following line:

Code:
host    all    barman    BARMAN_IP/32    md5

Step 4 - Restart PostgreSQL
Run on: PostgreSQL Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo systemctl restart postgresql

sudo systemctl status postgresql

Step 5 - Install Barman
Run on: Barman Backup Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo apt update

sudo apt install barman

Step 6 - SSH Key Setup
Run on: Barman Backup Server (10.10.x.x)

Generate SSH key on Barman server:

Code:
sudo -i -u barman

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -f ~/.ssh/id_rsa -N ""

Copy key to PostgreSQL server:

Code:
ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub postgres@POSTGRES_IP

Test SSH connection:

Code:
ssh postgres@POSTGRES_IP

Step 7 - Configure Barman
Run on: Barman Backup Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo nano /etc/barman.d/main-db-server.conf

Add the following:

Code:
[main-db-server]

description = "Main PostgreSQL Server"

conninfo = host=POSTGRES_IP user=barman password=YOUR_PASSWORD port=5432 dbname=postgres

ssh_command = ssh postgres@POSTGRES_IP

retention_policy_mode = auto

retention_policy = RECOVERY WINDOW OF 7 days

backup_method = rsync

archiver = on

compression = gzip

parallel_jobs = 4

Step 8 - Create Barman User in PostgreSQL
Run on: PostgreSQL Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo -i -u postgres

psql -c "CREATE USER barman WITH REPLICATION LOGIN ENCRYPTED PASSWORD 'YOUR_PASSWORD';"

psql -c "ALTER USER barman WITH SUPERUSER;"

Step 9 - Verify Setup
Run on: Barman Backup Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo -u barman barman check main-db-server

Expected Output:

Code:
Server main-db-server:

    PostgreSQL: OK

    superuser or standard user with backup privileges: OK

    wal_level: OK

    directories: OK

    retention policy settings: OK

    archive_mode: OK

    archive_command: OK

    continuous archiving: OK

    ssh: OK

Step 10 - Take First Backup
Run on: Barman Backup Server (10.10.x.x)

Code:
sudo -u barman barman backup main-db-server

List backups:

Code:
sudo -u barman barman list-backup main-db-server

Summary

PostgreSQL Server - Sends WAL logs to Barman via rsync
Barman Server - Receives and stores backups with 7 day retention
SSH - Used for secure communication between both servers
Always test restore procedure after setup