---
title: "Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore"
description: "Restores a backed-up PostgreSQL database. Product: Veeam Backup & Replication Product Edition: Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License This cmdlet restores a backed-up PostgreSQL database to a Linux-based server."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/explorers_powershell/start-vepsqldatabaserestore.html"
breadcrumb: "Veeam Explorers PowerShell Reference > Veeam Explorers PowerShell Reference > Veeam Explorer for PostgreSQL > Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore"
dateModified: "2026-08-18"
---

# Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore

## Short Description
Restores a backed-up PostgreSQL database.

**Product**: Veeam Backup & Replication

**Product Edition**: Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License

## Syntax
```
Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore [-Database] <VEPSQLDatabase> [[-DatabaseName] <String>]
 [[-ToPointInTimeUTC] <DateTime>] [-LinuxCredentials <VEPSQLLinuxCredential>] [-ServerName <String>]
 [-SshPort <Int32>] -PostgreSqlCredentials <VEPSQLInstanceCredentials> [-TargetPort <Int32>] [-Force] [<CommonParameters>]
```

## Detailed Description
This cmdlet restores a backed-up PostgreSQL database to a Linux-based server.

## Parameters

<table style="width:100%;" class="Blue_Table">
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Parameter</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Description</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Type</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Required</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Position</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Accept Pipeline Input</p>
        </th>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Database</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies a PostgreSQL database that you want to restore.</p><p>Note that this parameter accepts a single database only.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vepsqldatabase.md"><code>VEPSQLDatabase</code></a> object. To get this object, run the <a href="get-vepsqldatabase.md"><code>Get-VEPSQLDatabase</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vepsqldatabase.md"><code>VEPSQLDatabase</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>0</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">DatabaseName</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies a name for the restored PostgreSQL database on the target location. The database will be restored with the specified name.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>String</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>1</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Force</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the cmdlet will replace the target PostgreSQL database with the database from the backup.</p><p><strong>Note</strong>: The cmdlet will show no prompt before executing the command.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">LinuxCredentials</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies Linux credentials. The cmdlet will use these credentials to connect to the target PostgreSQL server.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vepsqllinuxcredential.md"><code>VEPSQLLinuxCredential</code></a> object. To get this object, run the <a href="new-vepsqllinuxcredential.md"><code>New-VEPSQLLinuxCredential</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vepsqllinuxcredential.md"><code>VEPSQLLinuxCredential</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">PostgreSqlCredentials</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies PostgreSQL role credentials for authenticating to PostgreSQL on the target machine.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vepsqlinstancecredentials.md"><code>VEPSQLInstanceCredentials</code></a> object. To get this object, run the <a href="new-vepsqlinstancecredentials.md"><code>New-VEPSQLInstanceCredentials</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vepsqlinstancecredentials.md"><code>VEPSQLInstanceCredentials</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">ServerName</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>For restore to another server.</p><p>Specifies DNS name or IP address of the target PostgreSQL server. The cmdlet will restore a PostgreSQL database to that server.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>String</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">SshPort</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the SSH port number. The cmdlet will use this port to connect to the Linux machine.</p><p>Default: <em>22</em></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>Int32</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">TargetPort</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the port to connect to the target PostgreSQL instance.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>Int32</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">ToPointInTimeUTC</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the point in time in the UTC format within a restore interval of the PostgreSQL instance.</p><p>The cmdlet will restore the database to the state of the specified point in time.</p><p>If you do not use this parameter, the cmdlet will restore the database to the point in time when the restore point for which you started the restore session was created.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>DateTime</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>2</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>

`<CommonParameters>`

This cmdlet supports Microsoft PowerShell common parameters. For more information on common parameters, see the [About Common Parameters](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=113216) section of Microsoft Docs.

## Output Object
The cmdlet returns the [`VEPSQLDatabaseRestore`](vepsqldatabaserestore.md) object that contains information about the restore process for the PostgreSQL database.

## Examples

::: example
### Example 1. Restoring PostgreSQL Database to Latest State

This example shows how to restore a backed-up PostgreSQL database to its latest state on the selected restore point. The restore operation will start with the following settings:

- The cmdlet will use PostgreSQL peer authentication credentials for the current Linux OS user.
- The cmdlet will restore the database to the point in time when the restore point for which you started the restore session was created.
- The cmdlet will restore the database to the original PostgreSQL server, with the original name.

```
$session = Get-VEPSQLRestoreSession
$database = Get-VEPSQLDatabase -Session $session[0] -Name "IT"
$creds = New-VEPSQLInstanceCredentials -UseLinuxUserForPeerAuthentication
$restore = Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore -Database $database -PostgreSqlCredentials $creds
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VEPSQLRestoreSession`](get-vepsqlrestoresession.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$session` variable.

   The cmdlet will return an array of active restore sessions. Note the ordinal number of the necessary restore session. In this example, it is the first restore session in the array.

2. Run the [`Get-VEPSQLDatabase`](get-vepsqldatabase.md) cmdlet. Set the `$session` variable as the `Session` parameter value. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$database` variable.
3. Run the [`New-VEPSQLInstanceCredentials`](new-vepsqlinstancecredentials.md) cmdlet. Provide the `UseLinuxUserForPeerAuthentication` parameter to create credentials that use the current Linux OS user for PostgreSQL peer authentication. Save the result to the `$creds` variable.
4. Run the `Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore` cmdlet. Set the `$database` variable as the `Database` parameter value. Set the `$creds` variable as the `PostgreSqlCredentials` parameter value. Save the result to the `$restore` variable to be able to use it with other cmdlets.

:::

::: example
### Example 2. Restoring PostgreSQL Database to Point-in-Time State

This example shows how to restore a backed-up PostgreSQL database to a point-in-time state on the selected restore point. The restore operation will start with the following settings:

- The cmdlet will use custom Linux credentials to connect to the target Linux machine.
- The cmdlet will use SQL credentials for authenticating to PostgreSQL on the target server.
- The cmdlet will restore the database to a point-in-time state on the selected restore point.
- The cmdlet will restore the database to another PostgreSQL server.

```
$session = Get-VEPSQLRestoreSession
$database = Get-VEPSQLDatabase -Session $session[0] -Name "IT"
$time = Get-Date -Date "2026-06-24 13:00:00"
$timeutc = $time.ToUniversalTime()
$securepassword = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter password" -AsSecureString
$linuxcredentials = New-VEPSQLLinuxCredential -Account "wells" -Password $securepassword -ElevateAccountToRoot
$sqlcred = Get-Credential
$postgresqlcredentials = New-VEPSQLInstanceCredentials -SQLCredentials $sqlcred
$restore = Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore -Database $database -DatabaseName "Inventory" -ToPointInTimeUTC $timeutc -ServerName srv01.tech.local -LinuxCredentials $linuxcredentials -PostgreSqlCredentials $postgresqlcredentials -SshPort 23 -TargetPort 5555
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VEPSQLRestoreSession`](get-vepsqlrestoresession.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$session` variable.

   The cmdlet will return an array of active restore sessions. Note the ordinal number of the necessary restore session. In this example, it is the first restore session in the array.

2. Run the [`Get-VEPSQLDatabase`](get-vepsqldatabase.md) cmdlet. Set the `$session` variable as the `Session` parameter value. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$database` variable.
3. Run the [`Get-Date`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/get-date?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet. Specify the `Date` parameter value to set the point in time to which the database must be restored. Save the result to the `$time` variable.
4. Convert the scheduled time to the UTC format using the `ToUniversalTime()` method. Save the result to the `$timeutc` variable.
5. Run the [`Read-Host`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/read-host?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet. Specify the `Prompt` parameter value. Provide the `AsSecureString` parameter. Save the result to the `$securepassword` variable.
6. Run the [`New-VEPSQLLinuxCredential`](new-vepsqllinuxcredential.md) cmdlet. Specify the `Account` parameter value. Set the `$securepassword` variable as the `Password` parameter value. Provide the `ElevateAccountToRoot` parameter. Save the result to the `$linuxcredentials` variable.
7. Run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet to create a credential object. Enter PostgreSQL credentials that will be used for authenticating to PostgreSQL on the target server. Save the result to the `$sqlcred` variable.
8. Run the [`New-VEPSQLInstanceCredentials`](new-vepsqlinstancecredentials.md) cmdlet. Set the `$sqlcred` variable as the `SQLCredentials` parameter value. Save the result to the `$postgresqlcredentials` variable.
9. Run the `Start-VEPSQLDatabaseRestore` cmdlet. Specify the following settings:

   - Set the `$database` variable as the `Database` parameter value.
   - Specify the `DatabaseName` parameter value.
   - Set the `$timeutc` variable as the `ToPointInTimeUTC` parameter value.
   - Specify the `ServerName` parameter value.
   - Set the `$linuxcredentials` variable as the `LinuxCredentials` parameter value.
   - Set the `$postgresqlcredentials` variable as the `PostgreSqlCredentials` parameter value.
   - Specify the `SshPort` parameter value.
   - Specify the `TargetPort` parameter value.

   Save the result to the `$restore` variable to be able to use it with other cmdlets.

:::

## Related Commands

- [`Get-VEPSQLRestoreSession`](get-vepsqlrestoresession.md)
- [`Get-VEPSQLDatabase`](get-vepsqldatabase.md)
- [``Get-Date``](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/get-date?view=powershell-7.6)
- [``Read-Host``](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/read-host?view=powershell-7.6)
- [`New-VEPSQLLinuxCredential`](new-vepsqllinuxcredential.md)
- [`New-VEPSQLInstanceCredentials`](new-vepsqlinstancecredentials.md)
- [``Get-Credential``](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6)