Where Does TimescaleDB Store Data?
TimescaleDB stores hypertables in the Postgres data dir. Config lives in postgresql.conf plus tuning.
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TimescaleDB runs as a Postgres extension. Hypertable chunks live in the normal Postgres data directory, usually /var/lib/postgresql with a versioned subfolder. There is no separate Timescale data root.
Config lives in postgresql.conf and postgresql.auto.conf plus timescaledb tuned settings. Logs follow Postgres logging. For backup, use Postgres tools. File copies need the server stopped. Keep Postgres and Timescale versions matched on restore, since hypertable metadata depends on both moving together.
Where TimescaleDB stores this, by platform
/var/lib/postgresql
Cluster data including hypertable chunks. Stop Postgres for file copies. Prefer pg_basebackup for online backup.
/etc/postgresql/16/main/postgresql.conf
Shared preload, workers, and memory tuning. Back up with data dumps. Keep versions matched on restore.
Frequently asked questions
how do i back up timescaledb
Back up with pg_dump or pg_basebackup like plain Postgres. Timescale metadata moves with the dump. Restore into a Timescale enabled instance of matching version.
where are timescaledb data files
Data files live in the Postgres cluster folder, often /var/lib/postgresql. Timescale adds background workers and metadata tables. Treat it as Postgres for file paths.
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