Enable WAL archiving for PITR/standbys.
At a glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Parameter | archive_mode |
| Category | Archiving |
| Default | off |
| Value type | boolean / enum / numeric |
| Change scope | Restart required |
What it does
When on (or always), completed WAL segments are handed to archive_command/archive_library for archiving, enabling point-in-time recovery and log shipping.
How to apply a change
Requires a full server restart (postmaster context). Set it in postgresql.conf and restart PostgreSQL.
Inspect the current value and source with SHOW archive_mode; or SELECT name, setting, unit, context, source FROM pg_settings WHERE name = 'archive_mode';.
Tuning guidance
Turn on together with a reliable archive_command before relying on PITR. A failing archive command makes pg_wal grow without bound — monitor and alert on archiver lag.