Re: Debugging a backend stuck consuming CPU

"ktm@rice.edu" <ktm@rice.edu> writes:
> I am investigating a problem with a backend that appears to be stuck
> and spinning while performing a "DISCARD ALL" command. The system is
> running an older release 9.2.2.

You do realize that the current release in that series is 9.2.17.

> Are there any bugs that could be causing this behavior?

Known bugs are summarized here:
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.2/static/release.html

> How can I tell what the process is actually doing?

Getting a stack trace with gdb might be informative:
https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/Generating_a_stack_trace_of_a_PostgreSQL_backend

            regards, tom lane