# Runbook: pgdb database restore (pg_restore, custom format)

## Purpose

Restore one pgdb database (`hass`, `scribe`, or `postgres`) from a pg-backup custom-format dump via `pg_restore`. The dump → restore path was exercised on 2026-08-29 (hass restore test, `states` 10014 rows); this runbook makes it repeatable and safe.

## Scope

- Applicable: single-database restore on [pgdb](../hosts/pgdb.md) (`192.168.55.15`) from `/opt/database/backups/{daily,weekly,monthly}/*.dump`.
- Not applicable: full-stack/VM recovery, HAOS-side changes, secret rotation, or restoring to a different host (adjust `-h` and auth first).

## Ownership

- Owner: personal ops (Windy)
- Last reviewed: 2026-08-29
- Related systems: pgdb (`/opt/database`), HA `192.168.55.11` (hass/scribe clients), [pgdb-health](pgdb-health.md)

## Preconditions

- Health baseline recorded ([pgdb-health](pgdb-health.md)): stack healthy, current backup is from today and passes `pg_restore -l`.
- A valid dump exists for the target database (see Step 1).
- Explicit user approval obtained for the chosen restore mode (see `## Approval gates`) and recorded in the Linear `vps` project.
- Disk headroom on `/srv/pgdata` for a second copy of the database (temp-DB mode).

## Inputs

| Input | Source | Required | Validation |
|---|---:|---|---|
| Target database (`hass`/`scribe`/`postgres`) | [hosts/pgdb.md](../hosts/pgdb.md) | yes | exists in `pg_database` |
| Dump path (inside pg-backup, `/backups/...`) | `ls /opt/database/backups/daily/` | yes | `pg_restore -l` lists TOC |
| Restore mode (temp-DB swap recommended / in-place `--clean`) | operator + user | yes | approval record |
| Downtime window | user | yes (for in-place) | user-confirmed |

## Safety

### Non-negotiable rules

- Never delete the existing configuration or the last known-good dump as the first recovery action.
- Prefer read-only diagnosis before any mutation; the restore itself is the only mutation.
- Never print passwords — use `PGPASSWORD="$POSTGRES_PASSWORD"` inside the pg-backup container.
- If actual state conflicts with this runbook (e.g. dump corrupt, DB missing), `STOP`.
- Do not invent missing parameters; do not bypass failed checks or approval.

### Stop conditions

- Dump fails `pg_restore -l` (corrupt/truncated) — do not restore from it.
- Target DB contains data newer than the dump and the operator did not accept the data-loss window.
- Disk space insufficient for the temp copy.
- Approval missing or stale (recorded in Linear).
- Post-restore verification fails — do not declare success.

### Approval gates

| Action | Risk | Explicit approval | Recorded at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create temp DB + `pg_restore` into it (no data loss) | Low | No (executor can run after plan review) | Linear vps issue |
| Drop/rename the live target DB (temp-DB swap) | High | Yes — user confirmation | Linear vps issue |
| In-place restore with `--clean --if-exists` | High | Yes — user confirmation | Linear vps issue |

## Procedure

### Step 1 — Diagnose

**Action**

```bash
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'ls -l --time-style=long-iso /opt/database/backups/daily/'
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'cd /opt/database && docker compose exec -T pg-backup sh -c "PGPASSWORD=\"\$POSTGRES_PASSWORD\" pg_restore -h timescaledb -U postgres -l /backups/daily/<db>-latest.dump" | head -6'
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'cd /opt/database && docker compose exec -T timescaledb psql -U postgres -Atc "select datname, pg_size_pretty(pg_database_size(datname)) from pg_database where datistemplate=false order by 1;"'
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'df -h /srv/pgdata'
```

**Expected**

- Dump exists for today and is custom format (`file -L` → `PostgreSQL custom database dump`).
- `pg_restore -l` lists the archive TOC (dbname matches the target) without error.
- Target DB exists; disk has headroom for a second copy.

**Decision**

- Dump valid + DB present → Step 2.
- Dump invalid or target missing → `STOP`; record evidence, do not restore.

### Step 2 — Approve

**Action** — Present the plan: target DB, dump (path + creation time), restore mode (temp-DB swap recommended), estimated write downtime (none for temp mode; brief for in-place), and rollback plan. Obtain explicit user approval and record it in the Linear `vps` project issue for this work.

**Expected** — User approval recorded with the chosen mode.

**Decision**

- Approved → Step 3.
- Not approved / mode changed → `STOP` and report; re-plan if needed.

### Step 3 — Restore into a temp database (recommended, no data loss)

**Action**

```bash
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'cd /opt/database
docker compose exec -T timescaledb psql -U postgres -c "CREATE DATABASE <db>_restore OWNER <owner>;"
docker compose exec -T pg-backup sh -c "PGPASSWORD=\"\$POSTGRES_PASSWORD\" pg_restore -h timescaledb -U postgres -d <db>_restore /backups/daily/<db>-latest.dump"
docker compose exec -T timescaledb psql -U postgres -Atc "select count(*) from pg_database where datname='"'"'<db>_restore'"'"';"'
```

`<owner>` is the database owner from [hosts/pgdb.md](../hosts/pgdb.md) (`hass` → `hass`, `scribe`/`postgres` → `postgres`). Run inside the pg-backup container so the password stays server-side; `-h timescaledb` routes over the compose network.

**Expected** — `CREATE DATABASE` succeeds; `pg_restore` exits 0 with no error lines; the temp DB exists.

**Decision**

- Restore OK → Step 4.
- Restore errors → diagnose (dump integrity, permissions), fix, or `STOP`; the live DB is untouched in this mode.

**Verification**

```bash
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'cd /opt/database && docker compose exec -T timescaledb psql -U postgres -d <db>_restore -Atc "select count(*) from <key_table>;"'
```

Compare against the pre-restore baseline (e.g. `states` ≈ dump's row count). Row counts match → proceed to swap; mismatch → `STOP` and inspect.

### Step 4 — Swap temp DB into place (approval-gated)

**Action** — After user approval: drop the live DB and rename the temp (or `pg_dump` the live DB as a safety copy first).

```bash
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'cd /opt/database
docker compose exec -T timescaledb psql -U postgres -c "DROP DATABASE <db>;"
docker compose exec -T timescaledb psql -U postgres -c "ALTER DATABASE <db>_restore RENAME TO <db>;"'
```

**Expected** — Rename succeeds; `pg_database` shows `<db>` with the restored size.

**Decision**

- Swap OK → Step 5.
- Swap fails → `STOP`; see Rollback.

**Verification**

- `select count(*)` on key tables matches the dump.
- HA sessions re-establish: `pg_stat_activity` shows `hass|hass|192.168.55.11` on `<db>` (scribe writes resume).
- pgweb bookmarks show restored data (read-only browse).

**Rollback**

- Trigger: verification fails or swap is wrong.
- Action: restore again from the dump taken before the operation; if the live DB was dropped, recreate `<db>` and restore the pre-change dump (`--clean` not needed on an empty DB).
- Verify: row counts + HA sessions match pre-change baseline; record in Linear.

### In-place variant (only with explicit approval)

```bash
ssh -F /dev/null -o BatchMode=yes windy@192.168.55.15 'cd /opt/database && docker compose exec -T pg-backup sh -c "PGPASSWORD=\"\$POSTGRES_PASSWORD\" pg_restore -h timescaledb -U postgres --clean --if-exists -d <db> /backups/daily/<db>-latest.dump"'
```

Destructive to current data — requires the High-risk approval gate and a fresh dump of the current state taken immediately before. Follow Steps 4–5 verification afterwards.

## Final Verification

Success requires all of:

- Target DB row counts match the dump (`states`, `states_raw`, `events` etc. sane).
- HA (`192.168.55.11`) reconnects and writes resume (write-activity sample grows).
- [pgdb-health](pgdb-health.md) passes (containers, backups still current, logs clean).
- Outcome recorded in [hosts/pgdb.md](../hosts/pgdb.md) and the Linear `vps` project.

## Failure Handling

1. Stop further changes; do not guess.
2. Collect: dump path + `pg_restore`/`psql` output, DB sizes, log tail.
3. Record completed steps, actual vs expected, and whether rollback ran.
4. Escalate to the user with evidence; continue only with explicit direction.

## References

- [hosts/pgdb.md](../hosts/pgdb.md) — roles, owners, backup layout, verification history
- [pgdb-health](pgdb-health.md) — pre/post health baseline
- [pgdb-update](pgdb-update.md) — image/compose upgrades
- Linear `vps`: W1N-226 (first check), W1N-227 (compose-化 + restore test), W1N-228 (this runbook)