mirrors/postgres
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity

Document background writer control parameters, do some editorial work

Browse Source 
on other recent changes in runtime parameter list.
This commit is contained in:
Tom Lane 2004-08-08 19:42:57 +00:00
parent faafbae720
commit dc199eafa7
2 changed files with 265 additions and 165 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

397
doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
View File

@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
<!--
$PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml,v 1.273 2004/08/06 04:15:07 momjian Exp $
$PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml,v 1.274 2004/08/08 19:42:56 tgl Exp $
-->
<Chapter Id="runtime">
@ -513,10 +513,11 @@ postmaster -c log_connections=yes -c log_destination='syslog'
<programlisting>
env PGOPTIONS='-c geqo=off' psql
</programlisting>
(This works for any <application>libpq</>-based client application, not just
<application>psql</application>.) Note that this won't work for
parameters that are fixed when the server is started, such as the port
number.
(This works for any <application>libpq</>-based client application, not
just <application>psql</application>.) Note that this won't work for
parameters that are fixed when the server is started, nor for
parameters that require superuser permissions to change (not even
if you are logging in as superuser).
</para>
<para>
@ -666,7 +667,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
to request more <systemitem class="osname">System V</> shared
memory or semaphores than your operating system's default configuration
allows. See <xref linkend="sysvipc"> for information on how to
adjust these parameters, if necessary.
adjust those parameters, if necessary.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -713,11 +714,11 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<term><varname>unix_socket_group</varname> (<type>string</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Sets the group owner of the Unix domain socket. (The owning
Sets the owning group of the Unix-domain socket. (The owning
user of the socket is always the user that starts the
server.) In combination with the option
<varname>unix_socket_permissions</varname> this can be used as
an additional access control mechanism for this socket type.
an additional access control mechanism for Unix-domain connections.
By default this is the empty string, which uses the default
group for the current user. This option can only be set at
server start.
@ -729,9 +730,9 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<term><varname>unix_socket_permissions</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Sets the access permissions of the Unix domain socket. Unix
Sets the access permissions of the Unix-domain socket. Unix
domain sockets use the usual Unix file system permission set.
The option value is expected to be an numeric mode
The option value is expected to be a numeric mode
specification in the form accepted by the
<function>chmod</function> and <function>umask</function>
system calls. (To use the customary octal format the number
@ -741,7 +742,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<para>
The default permissions are <literal>0777</literal>, meaning
anyone can connect. Reasonable alternatives are
<literal>0770</literal> (only user and group, see also under
<literal>0770</literal> (only user and group, see also
<varname>unix_socket_group</varname>) and <literal>0700</literal>
(only user). (Note that actually for a Unix domain socket, only write
permission matters and there is no point in setting or revoking
@ -900,7 +901,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
to request more <systemitem class="osname">System V</> shared
memory than your operating system's default configuration
allows. See <xref linkend="sysvipc"> for information on how to
adjust these parameters, if necessary.
adjust those parameters, if necessary.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -1081,7 +1082,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<para>
The intent of this feature is to allow administrators to reduce
the I/O impact of these commands on concurrent database
activity. There are some situations in which it is not very
activity. There are many situations in which it is not very
important that maintenance commands like
<command>VACUUM</command> and <command>ANALYZE</command> finish
quickly; however, it is usually very important that these
@ -1097,6 +1098,23 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
</para>
<variablelist>
<varlistentry id="guc-vacuum-cost-delay" xreflabel="vacuum_cost_delay">
<term><varname>vacuum_cost_delay</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
The length of time, in milliseconds, that the process will sleep
when the cost limit has been exceeded.
The default value is 0, which disables the cost-based vacuum
delay feature. Positive values enable cost-based vacuuming.
Note that on many systems, the effective resolution
of sleep delays is 10 milliseconds; setting
<varname>vacuum_cost_delay</varname> to a value that is
not a multiple of 10 may have the same results as setting it
to the next higher multiple of 10.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-vacuum-cost-page-hit" xreflabel="vacuum_cost_page_hit">
<term><varname>vacuum_cost_page_hit</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
@ -1137,25 +1155,8 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<term><varname>vacuum_cost_limit</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
The accumulated cost that will cause the vacuuming process to briefly
nap. The default value is 200.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-vacuum-cost-delay" xreflabel="vacuum_cost_delay">
<term><varname>vacuum_cost_delay</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
The length of time, in milliseconds, that the process will nap
when the cost limit has been exceeded.
The default value is 0, which disables the cost-based vacuum
delay feature. Positive values enable cost-based vacuuming.
Note however that on many systems, the effective resolution
of sleep delays is 10 milliseconds; setting
<varname>vacuum_cost_delay</varname> to a value that is
not a multiple of 10 may have the same results as setting it
to the next higher multiple of 10.
The accumulated cost that will cause the vacuuming process to sleep.
The default value is 200.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -1163,7 +1164,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<note>
<para>
There are certain bulk operations that hold critical locks and should
There are certain operations that hold critical locks and should
therefore complete as quickly as possible. Cost-based vacuum
delays do not occur during such operations. Therefore it is
possible that the cost accumulates far higher than the specified
@ -1176,6 +1177,85 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
</note>
</sect3>
<sect3 id="runtime-config-resource-background-writer">
<title>Background Writer</title>
<para>
Beginning in <productname>PostgreSQL</> 8.0, there is a separate server
process called the <firstterm>background writer</>, whose sole function
is to issue writes of <quote>dirty</> shared buffers. The intent is
that server processes handling user queries should seldom or never have
to wait for a write to occur, because the background writer will do it.
This arrangement also reduces the performance penalty associated with
checkpoints. The background writer will continuously trickle out dirty
pages to disk, so that only a few pages will need to be forced out when
checkpoint time arrives, instead of the storm of dirty-buffer writes that
formerly occurred at each checkpoint. However there is a net overall
increase in I/O load, because where a repeatedly-dirtied page might
before have been written only once per checkpoint interval, the
background writer might write it several times in the same interval.
In most situations a continuous low load is preferable to periodic
spikes, but the parameters discussed in this section can be used to tune
the behavior for local needs.
</para>
<variablelist>
<varlistentry id="guc-bgwriter-delay" xreflabel="bgwriter_delay">
<term><varname>bgwriter_delay</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Specifies the delay between activity rounds for the
background writer. In each round the writer issues writes for some
number of dirty buffers (controllable by the following parameters).
The selected buffers will always be the
least recently used ones among the currently dirty buffers.
It then sleeps for <varname>bgwriter_delay</varname> milliseconds,
and repeats.
Note that on many systems, the effective resolution
of sleep delays is 10 milliseconds; setting
<varname>bgwriter_delay</varname> to a value that is
not a multiple of 10 may have the same results as setting it
to the next higher multiple of 10.
This option can only be set at server start or in the
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> file.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-bgwriter-percent" xreflabel="bgwriter_percent">
<term><varname>bgwriter_percent</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
In each round, no more than this percentage of the currently dirty
buffers will be written (rounding up any fraction to the next whole
number of buffers).
This option can only be set at server start or in the
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> file.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-bgwriter-maxpages" xreflabel="bgwriter_maxpages">
<term><varname>bgwriter_maxpages</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
In each round, no more than this many dirty buffers will be written.
This option can only be set at server start or in the
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> file.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
<para>
Smaller values of <varname>bgwriter_percent</varname> and
<varname>bgwriter_maxpages</varname> reduce the extra I/O load caused by
the background writer, but leave more work to be done at checkpoint
time. To reduce load spikes at checkpoints, increase the values.
</para>
</sect3>
</sect2>
<sect2 id="runtime-config-wal">
@ -1203,8 +1283,6 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
to make sure that updates are physically written to disk. This
insures that a database cluster will recover to a
consistent state after an operating system or hardware crash.
(Crashes of the database server itself are <emphasis>not</>
related to this.)
</para>
<para>
@ -1218,6 +1296,9 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
However, if the system crashes, the results of the last few
committed transactions may be lost in part or whole. In the
worst case, unrecoverable data corruption may occur.
(Crashes of the database server itself are <emphasis>not</>
a risk factor here. Only an operating-system-level crash
creates a risk of corruption.)
</para>
<para>
@ -1251,6 +1332,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<literal>open_sync</> (write WAL files with <function>open()</> option <symbol>O_SYNC</>), and
<literal>open_datasync</> (write WAL files with <function>open()</> option <symbol>O_DSYNC</>).
Not all of these choices are available on all platforms.
If <varname>fsync</varname> is off then this setting is irrelevant.
This option can only be set at server start or in the
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> file.
</para>
@ -1261,9 +1343,42 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<term><varname>wal_buffers</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Number of disk-page buffers in shared memory for WAL
logging. The default is 8. This option can only be set at
server start.
Number of disk-page buffers allocated in shared memory for WAL data.
The default is 8. The setting need only be large enough to hold
the amount of WAL data generated by one typical transaction.
This option can only be set at server start.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-commit-delay" xreflabel="commit_delay">
<term><varname>commit_delay</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Time delay between writing a commit record to the WAL buffer
and flushing the buffer out to disk, in microseconds. A
nonzero delay can allow multiple transactions to be committed
with only one <function>fsync()</function> system call, if
system load is high enough that additional transactions become
ready to commit within the given interval. But the delay is
just wasted if no other transactions become ready to
commit. Therefore, the delay is only performed if at least
<varname>commit_siblings</varname> other transactions are
active at the instant that a server process has written its
commit record. The default is zero (no delay).
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-commit-siblings" xreflabel="commit_siblings">
<term><varname>commit_siblings</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Minimum number of concurrent open transactions to require
before performing the <varname>commit_delay</> delay. A larger
value makes it more probable that at least one other
transaction will become ready to commit during the delay
interval. The default is five.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -1303,42 +1418,9 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<listitem>
<para>
Write a message to the server logs if checkpoints caused by
the filling of checkpoint segment files happens more
frequently than this number of seconds. The default is 30
seconds. Zero turns off the warning.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-commit-delay" xreflabel="commit_delay">
<term><varname>commit_delay</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Time delay between writing a commit record to the WAL buffer
and flushing the buffer out to disk, in microseconds. A
nonzero delay allows multiple transactions to be committed
with only one <function>fsync()</function> system call, if
system load is high enough additional transactions may become
ready to commit within the given interval. But the delay is
just wasted if no other transactions become ready to
commit. Therefore, the delay is only performed if at least
<varname>commit_siblings</varname> other transactions are
active at the instant that a server process has written its
commit record. The default is zero (no delay).
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-commit-siblings" xreflabel="commit_siblings">
<term><varname>commit_siblings</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Minimum number of concurrent open transactions to require
before performing the <varname>commit_delay</> delay. A larger
value makes it more probable that at least one other
transaction will become ready to commit during the delay
interval. The default is five.
the filling of checkpoint segment files happen closer together
than this many seconds. The default is 30 seconds.
Zero turns off the warning.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -1377,7 +1459,6 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<sect3 id="runtime-config-query-enable">
<title>Planner Method Configuration</title>
<note>
<para>
These configuration parameters provide a crude method for
influencing the query plans chosen by the query optimizer. If
@ -1395,7 +1476,6 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
particular column using <command>ALTER TABLE SET
STATISTICS</command>.
</para>
</note>
<variablelist>
<varlistentry id="guc-enable-hashagg" xreflabel="enable_hashagg">
@ -1744,7 +1824,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
</para>
<para>
By default, this variable is set to
By default, this variable is set the same as
<varname>from_collapse_limit</varname>, which is appropriate
for most uses. Setting it to 1 prevents any reordering of
inner <literal>JOIN</>s. Thus, the explicit join order
@ -1973,8 +2053,8 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<para>
Controls whether or not the SQL statement that causes an error
condition will also be recorded in the server log. All SQL
statements that cause an error of the specified level, or a
higher level, are logged. The default is
statements that cause an error of the specified level or
higher are logged. The default is
<literal>PANIC</literal> (effectively turning this feature
off for normal use). Valid values are <literal>DEBUG5</literal>,
<literal>DEBUG4</literal>, <literal>DEBUG3</literal>,
@ -1996,11 +2076,11 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<listitem>
<para>
Sets a minimum statement execution time (in milliseconds)
for statement to be logged. All SQL statements
that run in the time specified or longer will be logged with
that causes a statement to be logged. All SQL statements
that run for the time specified or longer will be logged with
their duration. Setting this to zero will print
all queries and their durations. Minus-one (the default)
disables this. For example, if you set it to
disables the feature. For example, if you set it to
<literal>250</literal> then all SQL statements that run 250ms
or longer will be logged. Enabling this option can be
useful in tracking down unoptimized queries in your applications.
@ -2016,12 +2096,13 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<para>
Runs the server silently. If this option is set, the server
will automatically run in background and any controlling
terminals are disassociated. Thus, no messages are written to
standard output or standard error (same effect as
<command>postmaster</>'s <option>-S</option> option). Unless
<application>syslog</> logging is enabled, using this option
is discouraged because it makes it impossible to see error
messages.
terminals are disassociated (same effect as
<command>postmaster</>'s <option>-S</option> option).
The server's standard output and standard error are redirected
to <literal>/dev/null</>, so any messages sent to them will be lost.
Unless <application>syslog</> logging is selected or
<varname>redirect_stderr</> is enabled, using this option
is discouraged because it makes it impossible to see error messages.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -2188,11 +2269,13 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
below - anything else that looks like an escape is ignored. Other
characters are copied straight to the log line. Some escapes are
only recognised by session processes, and do not apply to
processes without controlling sessions. <application>Syslog</> produces its own
background processes such as the postmaster. <application>Syslog</>
produces its own
timestamp and process ID information, so you probably do not want to
use those escapes if you are using <application>syslog</>.
This option can only be set at server start or in the
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> configuration file.
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> configuration file.
<informaltable>
<tgroup cols="3">
<thead>
@ -2238,7 +2321,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<entry><literal>%c</literal></entry>
<entry>Session ID. A unique identifier for each session.
It is 2 4-byte hexadecimal numbers (without leading zeros)
separated by a dot. The numbers
separated by a dot. The numbers
are the Session Start Time and the Process ID, so this can also
be used as a space saving way of printing these items.</entry>
<entry>Yes</entry>
@ -2258,7 +2341,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<entry><literal>%x</literal></entry>
<entry>Does not produce any output, but tells non-session
processes to stop at this point in the string. Ignored by
session backends.</entry>
session processes.</entry>
<entry>No</entry>
</row>
<row>
@ -2277,7 +2360,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<term><varname>log_statement</varname> (<type>string</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Controls which SQL statement are logged. Valid values are
Controls which SQL statements are logged. Valid values are
<literal>all</>, <literal>ddl</>, <literal>mod</>, and
<literal>none</>. <literal>ddl</> logs all data definition
commands like <literal>CREATE</>, <literal>ALTER</>, and
@ -2571,8 +2654,7 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<listitem>
<para>
Aborts any statement that takes over the specified number of
milliseconds. A value of zero turns off the timer, which is
the default value.
milliseconds. A value of zero (the default) turns off the limitation.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
@ -2760,28 +2842,28 @@ SET ENABLE_SEQSCAN TO OFF;
<listitem>
<para>
If a dynamically loadable module needs to be opened and the
specified name does not have a directory component (i.e. the
file name specified in the <command>CREATE FUNCTION</command> or
<command>LOAD</command> command
does not have a directory component (i.e. the
name does not contain a slash), the system will search this
path for the specified file. (The name that is used is the
name specified in the <command>CREATE FUNCTION</command> or
<command>LOAD</command> command.)
path for the required file.
</para>
<para>
The value for <varname>dynamic_library_path</varname> has to be a
list of absolute directory names separated by colon or, in windows
environments with semi-colon. If a directory name starts
with the special value <literal>$libdir</literal>, the
list of absolute directory paths separated by colons (or semi-colons
on Windows). If a list element starts
with the special string <literal>$libdir</literal>, the
compiled-in <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> package
library directory is substituted. This where the modules
provided by the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>
distribution are installed. (Use <literal>pg_config
--pkglibdir</literal> to print the name of this directory.) For
example:
library directory is substituted for <literal>$libdir</literal>. This
is where the modules provided by the standard
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> distribution are installed.
(Use <literal>pg_config --pkglibdir</literal> to find out the name of
this directory.) For example:
<programlisting>
dynamic_library_path = '/usr/local/lib/postgresql:/home/my_project/lib:$libdir'
</programlisting>
or, in a windows environment:
or, in a Windows environment:
<programlisting>
dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
</programlisting>
@ -2923,15 +3005,15 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
This controls whether <command>CREATE TABLE</command>
and <command>CREATE TABLE AS</command> will include OIDs in
newly-created tables, if neither <literal>WITH OIDS</literal>
or <literal>WITHOUT OIDS</literal> have been specified. It
also determines whether OIDs will be included in the table
nor <literal>WITHOUT OIDS</literal> have been specified. It
also determines whether OIDs will be included in tables
created by <command>SELECT INTO</command>. In
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> &version;
<varname>default_with_oids</varname> defaults to
true. This is also the behavior of previous versions
of <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. However, assuming
that tables will contain OIDs by default is not
encouraged. Therefore, this option will default to false in a
encouraged. This option will probably default to false in a
future release of <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>.
</para>
@ -2940,7 +3022,7 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
this option should left enabled. To ease compatibility with
future versions of <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>, this
option should be disabled, and applications that require OIDs
on certain tables should explictely specify <literal>WITH
on certain tables should explicitly specify <literal>WITH
OIDS</literal> when issuing the <command>CREATE
TABLE</command> statements for the tables in question.
</para>
@ -2963,7 +3045,7 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
= <replaceable>expr</></literal>) are treated as
<literal><replaceable>expr</> IS NULL</literal>, that is, they
return true if <replaceable>expr</> evaluates to the null value,
and false otherwise. The correct behavior of
and false otherwise. The correct SQL-spec-compliant behavior of
<literal><replaceable>expr</> = NULL</literal> is to always
return null (unknown). Therefore this option defaults to off.
</para>
@ -2983,8 +3065,8 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
</para>
<para>
Note that this option only affects the literal <literal>=</>
operator, not other comparison operators or other expressions
Note that this option only affects the exact form <literal>= NULL</>,
not other comparison operators or other expressions
that are computationally equivalent to some expression
involving the equals operator (such as <literal>IN</literal>).
Thus, this option is not a general fix for bad programming.
@ -3004,7 +3086,7 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
<title>Compiled-in Options</title>
<para>
The following options are available read-only, and are determined
The following <quote>parameters</> are read-only, and are determined
when <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> is compiled. As such,
they have been excluded from the sample
<filename>postgresql.conf</> file. These options determine
@ -3084,11 +3166,10 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
<title>Customized Options</title>
<para>
The following was designed to allow options not normally known to
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> to be declared in the posgresql.conf
file and/or manipulated using the <command>SET</command> in a controlled
manner so that add-on modules to the postgres proper (such as lanugage
mappings for triggers and functions) can be configured in a unified way.
This feature was designed to allow options not normally known to
<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> to be added by add-on modules
(such as procedural languages). This allows add-on modules to be
configured in the standard ways.
</para>
<variablelist>
@ -3098,33 +3179,13 @@ dynamic_library_path = 'C:\tools\postgresql;H:\my_project\lib;$libdir'
<indexterm><primary>custom_variable_classes</></>
<listitem>
<para>
This variable specifies one or several classes to be used for custom
variables. A custom variable is a variable not normally known to
the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> proper but used by some add
on module.
</para>
<para>
Aribtrary variables can be defined for each class specified here. Those
variables will be treated as placeholders and have no meaning until the
module that defines them is loaded. When a module for a specific class is
loaded, it will add the proper variable definitions for the class
associated with it, convert any placeholder values according to those
definitions, and issue warnings for any placeholders that then remains.
</para>
<para>
Here is an example what custom variables might look like:
<programlisting>
custom_variable_class = 'plr,pljava'
plr.foo = '/usr/lib/R'
pljava.baz = 1
plruby.var = true <== this one would generate an error
</programlisting>
</para>
<para>
This variable specifies one or several class names to be used for
custom variables, in the form of a comma-separated list. A custom
variable is a variable not normally known
to <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> proper but used by some
add-on module. Such variables must have names consisting of a class
name, a dot, and a variable name. <varname>custom_variable_classes</>
specifies all the class names in use in a particular installation.
This option can only be set at server start or in the
<filename>postgresql.conf</filename> configuration file.
</para>
@ -3132,7 +3193,34 @@ plruby.var = true <== this one would generate an error
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
</sect2>
<para>
The difficulty with setting custom variables in
<filename>postgresql.conf</> is that the file must be read before add-on
modules have been loaded, and so custom variables would ordinarily be
rejected as unknown. When <varname>custom_variable_classes</> is set,
the server will accept definitions of arbitrary variables within each
specified class. These variables will be treated as placeholders and
will have no function until the module that defines them is loaded. When a
module for a specific class is loaded, it will add the proper variable
definitions for its class name, convert any placeholder
values according to those definitions, and issue warnings for any
placeholders of its class that remain (which presumably would be
misspelled configuration variables).
</para>
<para>
Here is an example of what <filename>postgresql.conf</> might contain
when using custom variables:
<programlisting>
custom_variable_classes = 'plr,pljava'
plr.path = '/usr/lib/R'
pljava.foo = 1
plruby.bar = true # generates error, unknown class name
</programlisting>
</para>
</sect2>
<sect2 id="runtime-config-developer">
<title>Developer Options</title>
@ -3166,6 +3254,17 @@ plruby.var = true <== this one would generate an error
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-debug-shared-buffers" xreflabel="debug_shared_buffers">
<term><varname>debug_shared_buffers</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Number of seconds between ARC reports.
If set greater than zero, emit ARC statistics to the log every so many
seconds. Zero (the default) disables reporting.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry id="guc-pre-auth-delay" xreflabel="pre_auth_delay">
<term><varname>pre_auth_delay</varname> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
<listitem>

33
src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
View File

@ -70,17 +70,6 @@
#maintenance_work_mem = 16384 # min 1024, size in KB
#max_stack_depth = 2048 # min 100, size in KB
#vacuum_cost_page_hit = 1 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_miss = 10 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_dirty = 20 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_limit = 200 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_delay = 0 # 0-1000 milliseconds
# - Background writer -
#bgwriter_delay = 200 # 10-5000 milliseconds
#bgwriter_percent = 1 # 0-100% of dirty buffers
#bgwriter_maxpages = 100 # 1-1000 buffers max at once
# - Free Space Map -
#max_fsm_pages = 20000 # min max_fsm_relations*16, 6 bytes each
@ -91,6 +80,20 @@
#max_files_per_process = 1000 # min 25
#preload_libraries = ''
# - Cost-Based Vacuum Delay -
#vacuum_cost_delay = 0 # 0-1000 milliseconds
#vacuum_cost_page_hit = 1 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_miss = 10 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_dirty = 20 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_limit = 200 # 0-10000 credits
# - Background writer -
#bgwriter_delay = 200 # 10-5000 milliseconds
#bgwriter_percent = 1 # 1-100% of dirty buffers
#bgwriter_maxpages = 100 # 1-1000 buffers max at once
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# WRITE AHEAD LOG
@ -102,14 +105,14 @@
#wal_sync_method = fsync # the default varies across platforms:
# fsync, fdatasync, open_sync, or open_datasync
#wal_buffers = 8 # min 4, 8KB each
#commit_delay = 0 # range 0-100000, in microseconds
#commit_siblings = 5 # range 1-1000
# - Checkpoints -
#checkpoint_segments = 3 # in logfile segments, min 1, 16MB each
#checkpoint_timeout = 300 # range 30-3600, in seconds
#checkpoint_warning = 30 # 0 is off, in seconds
#commit_delay = 0 # range 0-100000, in microseconds
#commit_siblings = 5 # range 1-1000
# - Archiving -
@ -206,7 +209,7 @@
#log_min_duration_statement = -1 # -1 is disabled, in milliseconds.
#silent_mode = false # DO NOT USE without Syslog!
#silent_mode = false # DO NOT USE without syslog or redirect_stderr
# - What to Log -
@ -240,8 +243,6 @@
#log_executor_stats = false
#log_statement_stats = false
#debug_shared_buffers = 0 # 0-600 seconds
# - Query/Index Statistics Collector -
#stats_start_collector = true