If you find you need to test several versions of PostgreSQL, pg_control can and should be used to start a local copy of pgsql running on a different port. This allows you to start your own db server when and only when you need it, allowing you to tune several different parameters. As a bonus, mutually incompatible postgresql server settings, e.g. fsync = on|off can be implemented on the same server.
In this case, your application can and should create it's own instance of postgreSQL master with it's own authentication and table spaces, and can be started and shutdown for maintenance (backup along with your application may be a good idea), without affecting other instances on the same machine.
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Ditto PostgreSQL.
If you find you need to test several versions of PostgreSQL,
pg_controlcan and should be used to start a local copy of pgsql running on a different port. This allows you to start your own db server when and only when you need it, allowing you to tune several different parameters. As a bonus, mutually incompatible postgresql server settings, e.g.fsync = on|offcan be implemented on the same server.In this case, your application can and should create it's own instance of postgreSQL master with it's own authentication and table spaces, and can be started and shutdown for maintenance (backup along with your application may be a good idea), without affecting other instances on the same machine.