PostgreSQL Essential Reference

Chapter 6. User Executable Files

PostgreSQL includes a number of executable files that aid in configuration and administration of the database system. Although this chapter is labeled as “User Executable Files,” do not confuse this terminology to mean “executed by any users.” Usually, these files can only be run from the postgres DBA account. Additionally, these files can be executed from a client machine and do not necessarily need to be executed from the same physical machine that holds the backend database system.

Most of these utilities perform operations that could also be performed by executing series of SQL commands. They have been included as standalone executables to aid the DBA in performing routine system tasks.

In the following documentation, ...