IvorySQL

IvorySQL is an open-source “Oracle-compatible” PostgreSQL kernel, developed by HighGo, licensed under Apache 2.0.

The Oracle compatibility here refers to compatibility at the PL/SQL, syntax, built-in functions, data types, system views, MERGE, and GUC parameter levels. It’s not a wire protocol compatibility like Babelfish, openHalo, or FerretDB that allows using the original client drivers. Users still need to use PostgreSQL client tools to access IvorySQL, but can use Oracle-compatible syntax.

Currently, IvorySQL’s latest version 4.4 maintains compatibility with PostgreSQL’s latest minor version 17.4, and provides binary RPM/DEB packages for mainstream Linux distributions. Pigsty offers the option to replace the native PostgreSQL with the IvorySQL kernel in PG RDS.

Quick Start

Use the standard procedure to install Pigsty with the ivory configuration template:

./configure -c ivory     # Use IvorySQL configuration template
./install.yml            # Run installation playbook

For production deployments, you should edit the auto-generated pigsty.yml configuration file to modify parameters like passwords before executing ./install.yml for deployment.

The latest IvorySQL 4.5 is equivalent to PostgreSQL 17.5 Any client tool compatible with PostgreSQL’s wire protocol can access IvorySQL clusters.

By default, you can use a PostgreSQL client to access through the alternative 1521 port, which enables Oracle compatibility mode by default.

Configuration Instructions

To use the IvorySQL kernel in Pigsty, modify the following four configuration parameters:

• pg_mode: Use ivory compatibility mode
• repo_extra_packages: Download ivorysql packages
• pg_packages: Install ivorysql packages
• pg_libs: Load Oracle syntax compatibility extensions

It's that simple — just add these four lines to the global variables in the configuration file, and Pigsty will replace the native PostgreSQL kernel with IvorySQL:

pg_mode: ivory                           # IvorySQL compatibility mode, uses IvorySQL binaries
pg_packages: [ ivorysql, pgsql-common ]  # Install ivorysql, replacing pgsql-main kernel
pg_libs: 'liboracle_parser, pg_stat_statements, auto_explain'  # Load Oracle compatibility extensions
repo_extra_packages: [ ivorysql ]        # Download ivorysql packages

IvorySQL also provides a series of new GUC parameters that can be specified in pg_parameters.

Extensions

Most of the PGSQL modules’ extension (non-SQL classes) cannot be used directly on the IvorySQL kernel. If you need to use them, you need to recompile and install from source code for the new kernel.

Caveats

• The IvorySQL software package is located in the pigsty-infra repository, not in pigsty-pgsql or pigsty-ivory repositories.
• The default FHS of IvorySQL 4.4 has changed, please pay attention to users upgrading from older versions.
• IvorySQL 4.4 requires gibc version >= 2.17, which is currently supported by Pigsty.
• The last IvorySQL version supporting EL7 is 3.3, corresponding to PostgreSQL 16.3, and IvorySQL 4.x no longer supports EL7.
• Pigsty does not assume any warranty for using the IvorySQL kernel, and any issues or requests should be addressed to the manufacturer.