Re: !!URGENT!! Should I keep INDEX on the table?

Rajan Bhide wrote:
 > Even I was thinking, VACCUM ANALYSE <table-name> is jes enough but
 > following discussion on forum forced me to add reindexing as I also
 > saw similar error msgs from my postgres server.
 >
 > > > Correct.  Someday, someone will step up to the plate and fix the problem
 > > > with btrees growing and growing and not reusing dead space.
 > > > Til then the solution is to reindex heavily updated indexes during nightly
 > > > maintenance.

I can't believe that's true.  That would be a serious show-
stopper bug in PostgreSQL, in my opinion.  The documentation
does not mention anywhere that periodically dropping and re-
creating indices might be necessary.  In fact, in chapter
11.8 it specifically says "indexes in PostgreSQL do not need
maintenance and tuning".

(Can anyone of the developers confirm or deny that?)

 > http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-general/2002-06/msg00813.php

That article is two years old, and describes different symp-
toms than what you described.  So I think it does not apply
to your case.

 > Also Can Some one help me understand the overhead involved
 > in DROPing and CREATing the indexes? How often this
 > activity should be performed?

I seriously hope it should not have be performed at all.
If you run a database cluster with dozens or even hundreds
of customers on it, it appears pretty ridculous to me to
have to rebuild all of their indices every night.  I don't
even want to know what indices they have -- it's the job
of the database to maintain that and care for it.

Frankly, I think VACUUMimg the databases (possibly with the
"FULL" option) should be enough for normal maintenance.
If it's not, I would consider that a bug, or at least a
serious PITA that deservers to be removed ASAP.  ;-)

(Just my 0.02 Euro.)

Best regards
   Oliver

--
Oliver Fromme, secnetix GmbH & Co KG, Oettingenstr. 2, 80538 München
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