Re: [HACKERS] How to shoot yourself in the foot: kill -9 postmaster

[Tom Lane]

Lamar Owen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> Tom Lane wrote:
>> Please note that the reason we're having this discussion at
>> all is that the init script may be used for purposes other than system
>> shutdown.  So the argument that "it's going to happen anyway" is wrong.

> Believe it or not, you just disproved your own statement that the
> initscript should not take it upon itself to issue the kill -9.

How?

> So, what if I issue '/etc/rc.d/init.d/postgresql restart' -- and
> backends don't go away during the 'stop' phase, while postmaster may
> actually have died?  Or is it even possible for postmaster to drop out
> with a running backend out there?

The postmaster will certainly not do so voluntarily.  If you kill -9 it,
of course, that's the situation you're left with ... but your reasoning
seems circular to me.  "I should kill -9 the postmaster to prevent the
situation where I've kill -9'd the postmaster."

                        regards, tom lane

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