Microsoft has introduced that PostgreSQL 17 is now usually out there on Azure Database for PostgreSQL Versatile Server, full with in-place main model upgrades. The in-place upgrades are a giant enchancment as a result of it means you not must provision a brand new server, copy information, or replace connection strings.

A number of the different advantages that Microsoft outlined embrace retaining your current server endpoint and firewall guidelines, lowering downtime with sooner upgrades utilizing the built-in “cease, pg_upgrade, restart” workflow, and simpler upkeep of Excessive Availability-enabled servers. With these modifications, Microsoft delivers a considerably improved expertise that ought to make life a bit simpler for maintainers of this software program.

For those who don’t know, PostgreSQL is a extremely popular little bit of open-source software program that offers you dependable database programs. It’s feature-rich and has robust group help and is valued for its means to deal with advanced purposes and enormous datasets.

In its announcement, Microsoft stated that PostgreSQL 17 is now the default for brand new server creations and main model upgrades on Azure Database for PostgreSQL Versatile Server. The brand new model brings an entire host of recent options together with improved vacuum efficiency, JSON capabilities enhancements, and dynamic logical replication.

The improved vacuum efficiency is a giant deal on this replace. PostgreSQL makes use of a system referred to as Multi-Model Concurrency Management (MVCC) that enables a number of individuals to work on the database on the identical time with out interfering with one another. Once you replace or delete information from the database, it’s not instantly eliminated, however is as an alternative marked as “useless” or “invisible”. The vacuum element acts as a rubbish collector and cleans up the “useless” rows to liberate area and hold the database nimble. PostgreSQL 17 makes the vacuum even higher.

Different highlights of PostgreSQL 17 that Microsoft picked out embrace:

• JSON Processing Upgrades: New capabilities and optimizations for querying and remodeling JSON information at scale.
• Dynamic Logical Replication: Simplify real-time information distribution with enhanced replication controls and improved throughput.
• Question Planner Enhancements: Smarter be part of ordering and parallel plan enhancements for advanced workloads.
• Safety and Compliance: Strengthened encryption choices and audit logging options to fulfill enterprise necessities.

readers can already improve to PostgreSQL 17 through the Azure Portal. You need to first entry your versatile server useful resource after which go to the Overview web page. Within the toolbar, choose Improve and choose PostgreSQL 17, then click on Improve. Simply to be further secure, Microsoft recommends wanting within the Improve sidebar within the PostgreSQL model to improve textual content field to make sure that the main model you wish to improve to is “17”.

You may as well use the next command to improve through the command line:

az postgres flexible-server improve

--name

--resource-group

--target-version 17

Microsoft’s in-place upgrades additionally include built-in well being checks and rollback security options to cut back any incidents while you improve, lowering upkeep instances. If you wish to take a deep dive into the brand new options of PostgreSQL 17, take a look at the launch notes.