Azure postgres flexible server region disaster recovery solution

Prudhvi Tavva 16

We are using postgres flexi server in west Europe since read replica is in public preview, we can't use it for our production server. I have seen other service like Geo-redundant backup and restore but it useful for one disaster only as mentioned in snapshot below. Kindly provide best solution for region disaster recovery. (If possible, auto fail option too)

Prudhvi Tavva 16 Reputation points

2023-01-19T06:51:58.6033333+00:00

@ShaktiSingh-MSFT we are using Geo-redundant back up for flexi server, we want to perform a disaster drill . Is there is any option to stimulate a disaster over the region?

I have seen forced failover option but it stimulate disaster for zonal level only i think.

Could you provide a solution how to stimulate a disaster over a region for disaster drill purpose.
ShaktiSingh-MSFT 16,171 Reputation points

2023-01-20T09:00:21.46+00:00

Please refer to Recover from a region-wide service disruption if this is what you are looking for.

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ShaktiSingh-MSFT 16,171 Reputation points

2022-12-01T12:27:08.403+00:00

Hi @Prudhvi Tavva ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A platform and thanks for using Azure services.

As I understand your question, you want to understand the solution for region disaster recovery in Azure Postgres Flexible Server.

In case of Region Failure and server configured without zone-redundant HA, if your server is configured with geo-redundant backup, you can perform geo-restore in the paired region. A new server will be provisioned and recovered to the last available data that was copied to this region.
This option provides the ability to restore your server in a different region in the event of a disaster. It also provides at least 99.99999999999999 percent (16 nines) durability of backup objects over a year.
Backup data is asynchronously copied in a continuous manner to the paired region. You can expect up to one hour of delay in receiving backup data.

Currently, geo-redundancy can only be enabled or disabled when a server is initially created. Geo-restore allows you to instantiate a server in the paired Azure region using the geo-backup. The geo-redundant backup for Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server is available in selected regions only at this time. Refer to the documentation for the latest list of regions supported for this feature.

Please let us know if the above information helps. In case of further queries, kindly reply. Thanks
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Prudhvi Tavva 16 Reputation points

2022-12-01T12:57:40.037+00:00

Hi @ShaktiSingh-MSFT ,

As per document Microsoft mentioned as " When the primary region is down, you can't create geo-redundant servers in the respective geo-paired region, because storage can't be provisioned in the primary region. Before you can provision geo-redundant servers in the geo-paired region, you must wait for the primary region to be up.
With the primary region down, you can still geo-restore the source server to the geo-paired region. Disable the geo-redundancy option in the Compute + Storage > Configure Server settings in the portal, and restore as a locally redundant server to help ensure business continuity. "

But this solution is only useful for one time disaster recovery, if second time the disaster happens we can't create our server again in paired region (North Europe) because our primary server (West Europe) is now local redundant server. hence this is not reliable solution. kindly provide a best solution...

ShaktiSingh-MSFT 16,171 Reputation points

2022-12-02T05:13:20.19+00:00

Hi @Prudhvi Tavva ,

Thanks for the reply. Let me check on your question internally and will get back to you.

ShaktiSingh-MSFT 16,171 Reputation points

2022-12-05T09:28:46.9+00:00

Hi @Prudhvi Tavva ,

Thanks for your patience.

I have checked with internal team and got the reply as: "One Geo-read replica provides resiliency with one Geo Failure. For the scenario you described, you can have another Geo-read-replica in another Geo."

Hope this helps. If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Up-Vote for the same. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Prudhvi Tavva 16 Reputation points

2023-01-02T11:37:21.603+00:00

" In case of Region Failure and server configured without zone-redundant HA, if your server is configured with geo-redundant backup, you can perform geo-restore in the paired region. A new server will be provisioned and recovered to the last available data that was copied to this region."

In the above statement mentioned by you, could you please explain the highlighted statement. I am confused why the server should not have the zone-redundant HA enabled?

ShaktiSingh-MSFT 16,171 Reputation points

2023-01-03T04:21:19.837+00:00

Hi @Prudhvi Tavva ,

It depends on the use case you are opting for disaster recovery whether with/without Zone Redundant HA. Kindly refer to the below screenshot and documentation for more details:

concepts-business-continuity

Prudhvi Tavva 16 Reputation points

2023-01-06T06:21:24.47+00:00

Hi @ShaktiSingh-MSFT ,

" There is no additional charge for backup storage for up to 100% of your total provisioned server storage. Additional consumption of backup storage, i.e., geo-redundant storage (GRS), will be charged in GB/month. GRS requires twice the amount of storage capacity because it creates a replica. Price per GB remains the same. "

I found the above pricing statement in microsoft azure document ( https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/postgresql/flexible-server/ ). I was bit confused on the above statement, could you please provide a brief example, that helps me to get clear picture.

Thank you.

ShaktiSingh-MSFT 16,171 Reputation points

2023-01-09T05:08:42.363+00:00

Hi @Prudhvi Tavva ,

The statement means that for the provisioned server storage, there is no additional charge for backup storage.

GRS requires twice the amount of storage capacity because it creates a replica. If you have configured the backup storage to be geo-redundant (GRS), the price will be 2x this price. Price per GiB remains the same
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Azure postgres flexible server region disaster recovery solution

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