PostgreSQL Database Clone Script

This script allows you to clone any PostgreSQL database to another PostgreSQL database — regardless of location.
You can use it for:

• Local → Local copies
• DigitalOcean → Local copies
• Local → DigitalOcean copies
• DigitalOcean → DigitalOcean copies
• Any PostgreSQL server to any PostgreSQL server

It automatically uses the same major version of pg_dump and psql as the source and destination databases to avoid version mismatch issues.

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Prerequisites

• Docker installed
• Access to both source and destination PostgreSQL databases
• Correct credentials for both databases
• Network access between your machine and the target databases

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Environment Variables

Copy .env.example to .env and fill in your database credentials:

cp .env.example .env

Edit .env:

SOURCE_DB_HOST=
SOURCE_DB_PORT=
SOURCE_DB_NAME=
SOURCE_DB_USER=
SOURCE_DB_PASSWORD=
SOURCE_POSTGRES_SSL= # true or false

DESTINATION_DB_HOST=
DESTINATION_DB_PORT=
DESTINATION_DB_NAME=
DESTINATION_DB_USER=
DESTINATION_DB_PASSWORD=
DESTINATION_POSTGRES_SSL= # true or false

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Usage

Run the clone script:

bash clone-db.sh

The script will:

1. Connect to the source PostgreSQL instance.
2. Detect the PostgreSQL major version of the source.
3. Run pg_dump using a Docker container with the matching PostgreSQL version.
4. Connect to the destination PostgreSQL instance.
5. Restore the dump using the matching psql version for the destination.
6. Drop temporary files after completion.

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Run through Docker

docker run --rm   --network=host   -v $(pwd):/app   -w /app   postgres:17-alpine   sh -c "apk add --no-cache bash && bash clone-db.sh"

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SSL Connections

• Set SOURCE_POSTGRES_SSL=true if your source DB requires SSL.
• Set DESTINATION_POSTGRES_SSL=true if your destination DB requires SSL.

The script automatically adds sslmode=require to the connection string when enabled.

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Example Scenarios

Clone from DigitalOcean → Localhost

SOURCE_DB_HOST=db-do-user-1234-0.b.db.ondigitalocean.com
SOURCE_DB_PORT=25060
SOURCE_DB_NAME=app_db
SOURCE_DB_USER=doadmin
SOURCE_DB_PASSWORD=source_password
SOURCE_POSTGRES_SSL=true

DESTINATION_DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DESTINATION_DB_PORT=5432
DESTINATION_DB_NAME=app_db_clone
DESTINATION_DB_USER=postgres
DESTINATION_DB_PASSWORD=local_password
DESTINATION_POSTGRES_SSL=false

Clone from Localhost → DigitalOcean

SOURCE_DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
SOURCE_DB_PORT=5432
SOURCE_DB_NAME=app_db
SOURCE_DB_USER=postgres
SOURCE_DB_PASSWORD=local_password
SOURCE_POSTGRES_SSL=false

DESTINATION_DB_HOST=db-do-user-1234-0.b.db.ondigitalocean.com
DESTINATION_DB_PORT=25060
DESTINATION_DB_NAME=app_db_clone
DESTINATION_DB_USER=doadmin
DESTINATION_DB_PASSWORD=destination_password
DESTINATION_POSTGRES_SSL=true

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Notes

• Data Overwrite Warning: The destination database will be overwritten.
• The script works across any PostgreSQL hosting provider.
• No local PostgreSQL installation is required — everything runs via Docker.

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