<function>pg_start_backup</> creates a <firstterm>backup label</> file,
called <filename>backup_label</>, in the cluster directory with
information about your backup, including the start time and label
- string.
+ string. The file is critical to the integrity of the backup, should
+ you need to restore from it.
</para>
<para>
The backup label file includes the label string you gave to
<function>pg_start_backup</>, as well as the time at which
<function>pg_start_backup</> was run, and the name of the starting WAL
- file. In case of confusion it is
- therefore possible to look inside a backup dump file and determine
- exactly which backup session the dump file came from.
+ file. In case of confusion it is therefore possible to look inside a
+ backup dump file and determine exactly which backup session the dump file
+ came from. However, this file is not merely for your information; its
+ presence and contents are critical to the proper operation of the system's
+ recovery process.
</para>
<para>