I have just updated the wording so that it may be clearer:

Oops, I have sent the wrong patch, without the wording fix. Here is the real updated version, which I tested.

probability of fist/last percent of the range: 11.3% 0.0%

--
Fabien.
diff --git a/contrib/pgbench/pgbench.c b/contrib/pgbench/pgbench.c
index 4aa8a50..f8ad17e 100644
--- a/contrib/pgbench/pgbench.c
+++ b/contrib/pgbench/pgbench.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include <math.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_SYS_SELECT_H
 #include <sys/select.h>
 #endif
@@ -98,6 +99,8 @@ static int	pthread_join(pthread_t th, void **thread_return);
 #define LOG_STEP_SECONDS	5	/* seconds between log messages */
 #define DEFAULT_NXACTS	10		/* default nxacts */
 
+#define MIN_GAUSSIAN_THRESHOLD		2.0	/* minimum threshold for gauss */
+
 int			nxacts = 0;			/* number of transactions per client */
 int			duration = 0;		/* duration in seconds */
 
@@ -171,6 +174,14 @@ bool		is_connect;			/* establish connection for each transaction */
 bool		is_latencies;		/* report per-command latencies */
 int			main_pid;			/* main process id used in log filename */
 
+/* gaussian distribution tests: */
+double		stdev_threshold;   /* standard deviation threshold */
+bool        use_gaussian = false;
+
+/* exponential distribution tests: */
+double		exp_threshold;   /* threshold for exponential */
+bool		use_exponential = false;
+
 char	   *pghost = "";
 char	   *pgport = "";
 char	   *login = NULL;
@@ -332,6 +343,88 @@ static char *select_only = {
 	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
 };
 
+/* --exponential case */
+static char *exponential_tpc_b = {
+	"\\set nbranches " CppAsString2(nbranches) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set ntellers " CppAsString2(ntellers) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set naccounts " CppAsString2(naccounts) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts exponential :exp_threshold\n"
+	"\\setrandom bid 1 :nbranches\n"
+	"\\setrandom tid 1 :ntellers\n"
+	"\\setrandom delta -5000 5000\n"
+	"BEGIN;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_accounts SET abalance = abalance + :delta WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_tellers SET tbalance = tbalance + :delta WHERE tid = :tid;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_branches SET bbalance = bbalance + :delta WHERE bid = :bid;\n"
+	"INSERT INTO pgbench_history (tid, bid, aid, delta, mtime) VALUES (:tid, :bid, :aid, :delta, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP);\n"
+	"END;\n"
+};
+
+/* --exponential with -N case */
+static char *exponential_simple_update = {
+	"\\set nbranches " CppAsString2(nbranches) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set ntellers " CppAsString2(ntellers) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set naccounts " CppAsString2(naccounts) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts exponential :exp_threshold\n"
+	"\\setrandom bid 1 :nbranches\n"
+	"\\setrandom tid 1 :ntellers\n"
+	"\\setrandom delta -5000 5000\n"
+	"BEGIN;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_accounts SET abalance = abalance + :delta WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"INSERT INTO pgbench_history (tid, bid, aid, delta, mtime) VALUES (:tid, :bid, :aid, :delta, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP);\n"
+	"END;\n"
+};
+
+/* --exponential with -S case */
+static char *exponential_select_only = {
+	"\\set naccounts " CppAsString2(naccounts) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts exponential :exp_threshold\n"
+	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+};
+
+/* --gaussian case */
+static char *gaussian_tpc_b = {
+	"\\set nbranches " CppAsString2(nbranches) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set ntellers " CppAsString2(ntellers) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set naccounts " CppAsString2(naccounts) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts gaussian :stdev_threshold\n"
+	"\\setrandom bid 1 :nbranches\n"
+	"\\setrandom tid 1 :ntellers\n"
+	"\\setrandom delta -5000 5000\n"
+	"BEGIN;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_accounts SET abalance = abalance + :delta WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_tellers SET tbalance = tbalance + :delta WHERE tid = :tid;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_branches SET bbalance = bbalance + :delta WHERE bid = :bid;\n"
+	"INSERT INTO pgbench_history (tid, bid, aid, delta, mtime) VALUES (:tid, :bid, :aid, :delta, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP);\n"
+	"END;\n"
+};
+
+/* --gaussian with -N case */
+static char *gaussian_simple_update = {
+	"\\set nbranches " CppAsString2(nbranches) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set ntellers " CppAsString2(ntellers) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\set naccounts " CppAsString2(naccounts) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts gaussian :stdev_threshold\n"
+	"\\setrandom bid 1 :nbranches\n"
+	"\\setrandom tid 1 :ntellers\n"
+	"\\setrandom delta -5000 5000\n"
+	"BEGIN;\n"
+	"UPDATE pgbench_accounts SET abalance = abalance + :delta WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+	"INSERT INTO pgbench_history (tid, bid, aid, delta, mtime) VALUES (:tid, :bid, :aid, :delta, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP);\n"
+	"END;\n"
+};
+
+/* --gaussian with -S case */
+static char *gaussian_select_only = {
+	"\\set naccounts " CppAsString2(naccounts) " * :scale\n"
+	"\\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts gaussian :stdev_threshold\n"
+	"SELECT abalance FROM pgbench_accounts WHERE aid = :aid;\n"
+};
+
 /* Function prototypes */
 static void setalarm(int seconds);
 static void *threadRun(void *arg);
@@ -375,6 +468,8 @@ usage(void)
 		   "  -v, --vacuum-all         vacuum all four standard tables before tests\n"
 		   "  --aggregate-interval=NUM aggregate data over NUM seconds\n"
 		   "  --sampling-rate=NUM      fraction of transactions to log (e.g. 0.01 for 1%%)\n"
+		   "  --exponential=NUM        exponential distribution with NUM threshold parameter\n"
+		   "  --gaussian=NUM           gaussian distribution with NUM threshold parameter\n"
 		   "\nCommon options:\n"
 		   "  -d, --debug              print debugging output\n"
 	  "  -h, --host=HOSTNAME      database server host or socket directory\n"
@@ -471,6 +566,76 @@ getrand(TState *thread, int64 min, int64 max)
 	return min + (int64) ((max - min + 1) * pg_erand48(thread->random_state));
 }
 
+/*
+ * random number generator: exponential distribution from min to max inclusive.
+ * the threshold is so that the density of probability for the last cut-off max
+ * value is exp(-exp_threshold).
+ */
+static int64
+getExponentialrand(TState *thread, int64 min, int64 max, double exp_threshold)
+{
+	double cut, uniform, rand;
+	assert(exp_threshold > 0.0);
+	cut = exp(-exp_threshold);
+	/* erand in [0, 1), uniform in (0, 1] */
+	uniform = 1.0 - pg_erand48(thread->random_state);
+	/*
+	 * inner expresion in (cut, 1] (if exp_threshold > 0),
+	 * rand in [0, 1)
+	 */
+	assert((1.0 - cut) != 0.0);
+	rand = - log(cut + (1.0 - cut) * uniform) / exp_threshold;
+	/* return int64 random number within between min and max */
+	return min + (int64)((max - min + 1) * rand);
+}
+
+/* random number generator: gaussian distribution from min to max inclusive */
+static int64
+getGaussianrand(TState *thread, int64 min, int64 max, double stdev_threshold)
+{
+	double		stdev;
+	double		rand;
+
+	/*
+	 * Get user specified random number from this loop, with
+	 * -stdev_threshold < stdev <= stdev_threshold
+	 *
+	 * This loop is executed until the number is in the expected range.
+	 *
+	 * As the minimum threshold is 2.0, the probability of looping is low:
+	 * sqrt(-2 ln(r)) <= 2 => r >= e^{-2} ~ 0.135, then when taking the average
+	 * sinus multiplier as 2/pi, we have a 8.6% looping probability in the
+	 * worst case. For a 5.0 threshold value, the looping probability
+	 * is about e^{-5} * 2 / pi ~ 0.43%.
+	 */
+	do
+	{
+		/*
+		 * pg_erand48 generates [0,1), but for the basic version of the
+		 * Box-Muller transform the two uniformly distributed random numbers
+		 * are expected in (0, 1] (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_muller)
+		 */
+		double rand1 = 1.0 - pg_erand48(thread->random_state);
+		double rand2 = 1.0 - pg_erand48(thread->random_state);
+
+		/* Box-Muller basic form transform */
+		double var_sqrt = sqrt(-2.0 * log(rand1));
+		stdev = var_sqrt * sin(2.0 * M_PI * rand2);
+
+		/*
+ 		 * we may try with cos, but there may be a bias induced if the previous
+		 * value fails the test? To be on the safe side, let us try over.
+		 */
+	}
+	while (stdev < -stdev_threshold || stdev >= stdev_threshold);
+
+	/* stdev is in [-threshold, threshold), normalization to [0,1) */
+	rand = (stdev + stdev_threshold) / (stdev_threshold * 2.0);
+
+	/* return int64 random number within between min and max */
+	return min + (int64)((max - min + 1) * rand);
+}
+
 /* call PQexec() and exit() on failure */
 static void
 executeStatement(PGconn *con, const char *sql)
@@ -1319,6 +1484,7 @@ top:
 			char	   *var;
 			int64		min,
 						max;
+			double		threshold = 0;
 			char		res[64];
 
 			if (*argv[2] == ':')
@@ -1364,11 +1530,11 @@ top:
 			}
 
 			/*
-			 * getrand() needs to be able to subtract max from min and add one
-			 * to the result without overflowing.  Since we know max > min, we
-			 * can detect overflow just by checking for a negative result. But
-			 * we must check both that the subtraction doesn't overflow, and
-			 * that adding one to the result doesn't overflow either.
+			 * Generate random number functions need to be able to subtract
+			 * max from min and add one to the result without overflowing.
+			 * Since we know max > min, we can detect overflow just by checking
+			 * for a negative result. But we must check both that the subtraction
+			 * doesn't overflow, and that adding one to the result doesn't overflow either.
 			 */
 			if (max - min < 0 || (max - min) + 1 < 0)
 			{
@@ -1377,10 +1543,63 @@ top:
 				return true;
 			}
 
+			if (argc == 4) /* uniform */
+			{
+#ifdef DEBUG
+				printf("min: " INT64_FORMAT " max: " INT64_FORMAT " random: " INT64_FORMAT "\n", min, max, getrand(thread, min, max));
+#endif
+				snprintf(res, sizeof(res), INT64_FORMAT, getrand(thread, min, max));
+			}
+			else if ((pg_strcasecmp(argv[4], "gaussian") == 0) ||
+				 (pg_strcasecmp(argv[4], "exponential") == 0))
+			{
+				if (*argv[5] == ':')
+				{
+					if ((var = getVariable(st, argv[5] + 1)) == NULL)
+					{
+						fprintf(stderr, "%s: invalid threshold number %s\n", argv[0], argv[5]);
+						st->ecnt++;
+						return true;
+					}
+					threshold = strtod(var, NULL);
+				}
+				else
+					threshold = strtod(argv[5], NULL);
+
+				if (pg_strcasecmp(argv[4], "gaussian") == 0)
+				{
+					if (threshold < MIN_GAUSSIAN_THRESHOLD)
+					{
+						fprintf(stderr, "%s: gaussian threshold must be more than %f\n,", argv[5], MIN_GAUSSIAN_THRESHOLD);
+						st->ecnt++;
+						return true;
+					}
+#ifdef DEBUG
+					printf("min: " INT64_FORMAT " max: " INT64_FORMAT " random: " INT64_FORMAT "\n", min, max, getGaussianrand(thread, min, max, threshold));
+#endif
+					snprintf(res, sizeof(res), INT64_FORMAT, getGaussianrand(thread, min, max, threshold));
+				}
+				else if (pg_strcasecmp(argv[4], "exponential") == 0)
+				{
+					if (threshold <= 0.0)
+					{
+						fprintf(stderr, "%s: exponential threshold must be strictly positive\n,", argv[5]);
+						st->ecnt++;
+						return true;
+					}
 #ifdef DEBUG
-			printf("min: " INT64_FORMAT " max: " INT64_FORMAT " random: " INT64_FORMAT "\n", min, max, getrand(thread, min, max));
+					printf("min: " INT64_FORMAT " max: " INT64_FORMAT " random: " INT64_FORMAT "\n", min, max, getExponentialrand(thread, min, max, threshold));
 #endif
-			snprintf(res, sizeof(res), INT64_FORMAT, getrand(thread, min, max));
+					snprintf(res, sizeof(res), INT64_FORMAT, getExponentialrand(thread, min, max, threshold));
+				}
+			}
+			else /* uniform with extra arguments */
+			{
+#ifdef DEBUG
+				printf("min: " INT64_FORMAT " max: " INT64_FORMAT " random: " INT64_FORMAT "\n", min, max, getrand(thread, min, max));
+#endif
+				snprintf(res, sizeof(res), INT64_FORMAT, getrand(thread, min, max));
+			}
 
 			if (!putVariable(st, argv[0], argv[1], res))
 			{
@@ -1920,9 +2139,34 @@ process_commands(char *buf)
 				exit(1);
 			}
 
-			for (j = 4; j < my_commands->argc; j++)
-				fprintf(stderr, "%s: extra argument \"%s\" ignored\n",
-						my_commands->argv[0], my_commands->argv[j]);
+			if (my_commands->argc == 4 ) /* uniform */
+			{
+				/* nothing to do */
+			}
+			else if ((pg_strcasecmp(my_commands->argv[4], "gaussian") == 0) ||
+				 (pg_strcasecmp(my_commands->argv[4], "exponential") == 0))
+			{
+				if (my_commands->argc < 6)
+				{
+					fprintf(stderr, "%s(%s): missing argument\n", my_commands->argv[0], my_commands->argv[4]);
+					exit(1);
+				}
+
+				for (j = 6; j < my_commands->argc; j++)
+					fprintf(stderr, "%s(%s): extra argument \"%s\" ignored\n",
+							my_commands->argv[0], my_commands->argv[4], my_commands->argv[j]);
+			}
+			else /* uniform with extra argument */
+			{
+				int arg_pos = 4;
+
+				if (pg_strcasecmp(my_commands->argv[4], "uniform") == 0)
+					arg_pos++;
+
+				for (j = arg_pos; j < my_commands->argc; j++)
+					fprintf(stderr, "%s(uniform): extra argument \"%s\" ignored\n",
+							my_commands->argv[0], my_commands->argv[j]);
+			}
 		}
 		else if (pg_strcasecmp(my_commands->argv[0], "set") == 0)
 		{
@@ -2178,6 +2422,18 @@ process_builtin(char *tb)
 	return my_commands;
 }
 
+/*
+ * compute the probability of the truncated exponential random generation
+ * to draw values in the i-th slot of the range.
+ */
+static double exponentialProbability(int i, int slots, double threshold)
+{
+	assert(1 <= i && i <= slots);
+	return (exp(- threshold * (i - 1) / slots) - exp(- threshold * i / slots)) /
+		(1.0 - exp(- threshold));
+}
+
+
 /* print out results */
 static void
 printResults(int ttype, int64 normal_xacts, int nclients,
@@ -2197,16 +2453,69 @@ printResults(int ttype, int64 normal_xacts, int nclients,
 						(INSTR_TIME_GET_DOUBLE(conn_total_time) / nthreads));
 
 	if (ttype == 0)
-		s = "TPC-B (sort of)";
+	{
+		if (use_gaussian)
+			s = "Gaussian distribution TPC-B (sort of)";
+		else if (use_exponential)
+			s = "Exponential distribution TPC-B (sort of)";
+		else
+			s = "TPC-B (sort of)";
+	}
 	else if (ttype == 2)
-		s = "Update only pgbench_accounts";
+	{
+		if (use_gaussian)
+			s = "Gaussian distribution update only pgbench_accounts";
+		else if (use_exponential)
+			s = "Exponential distribution update only pgbench_accounts";
+		else
+			s = "Update only pgbench_accounts";
+	}
 	else if (ttype == 1)
-		s = "SELECT only";
+	{
+		if (use_gaussian)
+			s = "Gaussian distribution SELECT only";
+		else if (use_exponential)
+			s = "Exponential distribution SELECT only";
+		else
+			s = "SELECT only";
+	}
 	else
 		s = "Custom query";
 
 	printf("transaction type: %s\n", s);
 	printf("scaling factor: %d\n", scale);
+
+	/* output in gaussian distribution benchmark */
+	if (use_gaussian)
+	{
+		int i;
+		printf("standard deviation threshold: %.5f\n", stdev_threshold);
+		printf("decile percents:");
+		for (i = 2; i <= 20; i = i + 2)
+			printf(" %.1f%%", (double) 50 * (erf (stdev_threshold * (1 - 0.1 * (i - 2)) / sqrt(2.0)) -
+				erf (stdev_threshold * (1 - 0.1 * i) / sqrt(2.0))) /
+				erf (stdev_threshold / sqrt(2.0)));
+		printf("\n");
+//		printf("access probability of top 20%%, 10%% and 5%% records: %.5f %.5f %.5f\n",
+//			(double) ((erf (stdev_threshold * 0.2 / sqrt(2.0))) / (erf (stdev_threshold / sqrt(2.0)))),
+//			(double) ((erf (stdev_threshold * 0.1 / sqrt(2.0))) / (erf (stdev_threshold / sqrt(2.0)))),
+//			(double) ((erf (stdev_threshold * 0.05 / sqrt(2.0))) / (erf (stdev_threshold / sqrt(2.0)))));
+	}
+	/* output in exponential distribution benchmark */
+	else if (use_exponential)
+	{
+		int i;
+		printf("exponential threshold: %.5f\n", exp_threshold);
+		printf("decile percents:");
+		for (i = 1; i <= 10; i++)
+			printf(" %.1f%%",
+				   100.0 * exponentialProbability(i, 10, exp_threshold));
+		printf("\n");
+		printf("probability of fist/last percent of the range: %.1f%% %.1f%%\n",
+			   100.0 * exponentialProbability(1, 100, exp_threshold),
+			   100.0 * exponentialProbability(100, 100, exp_threshold));
+	}
+
 	printf("query mode: %s\n", QUERYMODE[querymode]);
 	printf("number of clients: %d\n", nclients);
 	printf("number of threads: %d\n", nthreads);
@@ -2337,6 +2646,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		{"unlogged-tables", no_argument, &unlogged_tables, 1},
 		{"sampling-rate", required_argument, NULL, 4},
 		{"aggregate-interval", required_argument, NULL, 5},
+		{"gaussian", required_argument, NULL, 6},
+		{"exponential", required_argument, NULL, 7},
 		{"rate", required_argument, NULL, 'R'},
 		{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
 	};
@@ -2617,6 +2928,25 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 				}
 #endif
 				break;
+			case 6:
+				use_gaussian = true;
+				stdev_threshold = atof(optarg);
+				if(stdev_threshold < MIN_GAUSSIAN_THRESHOLD)
+				{
+					fprintf(stderr, "--gaussian=NUM must be more than %f: %f\n",
+							MIN_GAUSSIAN_THRESHOLD, stdev_threshold);
+					exit(1);
+				}
+				break;
+			case 7:
+				use_exponential = true;
+				exp_threshold = atof(optarg);
+				if(exp_threshold <= 0.0)
+				{
+					fprintf(stderr, "--exponential=NUM must be more 0.0\n");
+					exit(1);
+				}
+				break;
 			default:
 				fprintf(stderr, _("Try \"%s --help\" for more information.\n"), progname);
 				exit(1);
@@ -2814,6 +3144,28 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* set :stdev_threshold variable */
+	if(getVariable(&state[0], "stdev_threshold") == NULL)
+	{
+		snprintf(val, sizeof(val), "%lf", stdev_threshold);
+		for (i = 0; i < nclients; i++)
+		{
+			if (!putVariable(&state[i], "startup", "stdev_threshold", val))
+				exit(1);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* set :exp_threshold variable */
+	if(getVariable(&state[0], "exp_threshold") == NULL)
+	{
+		snprintf(val, sizeof(val), "%lf", exp_threshold);
+		for (i = 0; i < nclients; i++)
+		{
+			if (!putVariable(&state[i], "startup", "exp_threshold", val))
+				exit(1);
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (!is_no_vacuum)
 	{
 		fprintf(stderr, "starting vacuum...");
@@ -2839,17 +3191,32 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	switch (ttype)
 	{
 		case 0:
-			sql_files[0] = process_builtin(tpc_b);
+			if (use_gaussian)
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(gaussian_tpc_b);
+			else if (use_exponential)
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(exponential_tpc_b);
+			else
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(tpc_b);
 			num_files = 1;
 			break;
 
 		case 1:
-			sql_files[0] = process_builtin(select_only);
+			if (use_gaussian)
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(gaussian_select_only);
+			else if (use_exponential)
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(exponential_select_only);
+			else
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(select_only);
 			num_files = 1;
 			break;
 
 		case 2:
-			sql_files[0] = process_builtin(simple_update);
+			if (use_gaussian)
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(gaussian_simple_update);
+			else if (use_exponential)
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(exponential_simple_update);
+			else
+				sql_files[0] = process_builtin(simple_update);
 			num_files = 1;
 			break;
 
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/pgbench.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/pgbench.sgml
index 4367563..3a561a9 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/pgbench.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/pgbench.sgml
@@ -307,6 +307,21 @@ pgbench <optional> <replaceable>options</> </optional> <replaceable>dbname</>
      </varlistentry>
 
      <varlistentry>
+      <term><option>--exponential</option><replaceable>threshold</></term>
+      <listitem>
+       <para>
+         Run exponential distribution pgbench test using this threshold parameter.
+         The threshold controls the distribution of access frequency on the
+         <structname>pgbench_accounts</> table.
+         See the <literal>\setrandom</> documentation below for details about
+         the impact of the threshold value.
+         When set, this option applies to all test variants (<option>-N</> for
+         skipping updates, or <option>-S</> for selects).
+       </para>
+      </listitem>
+     </varlistentry>
+
+     <varlistentry>
       <term><option>-f</option> <replaceable>filename</></term>
       <term><option>--file=</option><replaceable>filename</></term>
       <listitem>
@@ -320,6 +335,21 @@ pgbench <optional> <replaceable>options</> </optional> <replaceable>dbname</>
      </varlistentry>
 
      <varlistentry>
+      <term><option>--gaussian</option><replaceable>threshold</></term>
+      <listitem>
+       <para>
+         Run gaussian distribution pgbench test using this threshold parameter.
+         The threshold controls the distribution of access frequency on the
+         <structname>pgbench_accounts</> table.
+         See the <literal>\setrandom</> documentation below for details about
+         the impact of the threshold value.
+         When set, this option applies to all test variants (<option>-N</> for
+         skipping updates, or <option>-S</> for selects).
+       </para>
+      </listitem>
+     </varlistentry>
+
+     <varlistentry>
       <term><option>-j</option> <replaceable>threads</></term>
       <term><option>--jobs=</option><replaceable>threads</></term>
       <listitem>
@@ -748,8 +778,8 @@ pgbench <optional> <replaceable>options</> </optional> <replaceable>dbname</>
 
    <varlistentry>
     <term>
-     <literal>\setrandom <replaceable>varname</> <replaceable>min</> <replaceable>max</></literal>
-    </term>
+     <literal>\setrandom <replaceable>varname</> <replaceable>min</> <replaceable>max</> [ uniform | [ { gaussian | exponential } <replaceable>threshold</> ] ]</literal>
+     </term>
 
     <listitem>
      <para>
@@ -761,9 +791,44 @@ pgbench <optional> <replaceable>options</> </optional> <replaceable>dbname</>
      </para>
 
      <para>
+      The default random distribution is uniform. The gaussian and exponential
+      options allow to change the distribution. The mandatory
+      <replaceable>threshold</> double value controls the actual distribution.
+     </para>
+
+     <para>
+      With the gaussian option, the larger the <replaceable>threshold</>,
+      the more frequently values close to the middle of the interval are drawn,
+      and the less frequently values close to the <replaceable>min</> and
+      <replaceable>max</> bounds.
+      In other worlds, the larger the <replaceable>threshold</>,
+      the narrower the access range around the middle.
+      the smaller the threshold, the smoother the access pattern
+      distribution. The minimum threshold is 2.0 for performance.
+     </para>
+
+     <para>
+      With the exponential option, the <replaceable>threshold</> parameter
+      controls the distribution by truncating an exponential distribution at
+      a specific value, and then projecting onto integers between the bounds.
+      To be precise, the <replaceable>threshold</> is so that the density of
+      probability of the exponential distribution at the <replaceable>max</>
+      cut-off value is exp(-threshold), the density at the <replaceable>min</>
+      value being 1.
+      Intuitively, the larger the threshold, the more frequently values close to
+      <replaceable>min</> are accessed, and the less frequently values close to
+      <replaceable>max</> are accessed.
+      A crude approximation of the distribution is that the most frequent 1%
+      values are drawn <replaceable>threshold</>% of the time.
+      The closer to 0.0 the threshold, the flatter (more uniform) the access
+      distribution.
+      The threshold value must be strictly positive with the exponential option.
+     </para>
+
+     <para>
       Example:
 <programlisting>
-\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts
+\setrandom aid 1 :naccounts gaussian 5.0
 </programlisting></para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
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