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Linux kernel version 2.4.* has poor default memory overcommit behavior, which can result in the postmaster being killed by the kernel due to memory demands by another process if the system runs out of memory. To avoid this situation, run postgres on a machine where you can be sure that other processes will not run the machine out of memory. If your kernel supports strict and/or parnoid modes of overcommit handling, you can also relieve this problem by altering the system's default behaviour. This can be determined by examining the function vm_enough_memory in the file mm/mmap.c in the kernel source. If this file reveals that strict and/or paranoid modes are supported by your kernel, turn one of these modes on by using
sysctl -w vm.overcommit_memory=2
for strict mode or
sysctl -w vm.overcommit_memory=3
for paranoid mode.
Warning: using these settings in a kernel which does not support these modes will almost certainly increase the danger of the kernel killing the postmaster, rather than reducing it. If in any doubt, consult a kernel expert or your kernel vendor.
These modes are expected to be supported in all 2.6 and later kernels. Some vendor 2.4 kernels may also support these modes. However, it is known that some vendor documents suggest that they support them while examination of the kernel source reveals that they do not.
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The kernel docs on these modes state this:
Gotchas -------
The C language stack growth does an implicit mremap. If you want absolute guarantees and run close to the edge you MUST mmap your stack for the largest size you think you will need. For typical stack usage is does not matter much but its a corner case if you really really care
Does this affect Pg?
andrew
Andrew Dunstan wrote:
http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2003-07/msg00608.php
Subject is "reprise on Linux overcommit handling" - is that too deceptive? :-)
andrew
Josh Berkus wrote:
Hackers,
I've been searching the archives, but I can't find the thread from last month where we discussed the problem with Linux memory overcommits in kernel 2.4.x.
Can someone point me to the right thread? I think maybe the subject line was something deceptive ....
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