Re: Multiple UNIX-domain sockets?

Tom Lane wrote:
 > Oliver Fromme writes:
 > > The only solution would be to use TCP sockets on localhost,
 > > but the TCP/IP overhead is considerably higher, especially
 > > when there are lots of small queries (which I expect).
 > > I've foiund several benchmarks in various mailinglists,
 > > some mention a factor of 10.
 >
 > Really?  A decently designed TCP stack should have enough shortcuts
 > for local traffic to be competitive with Unix sockets.

TCP/IP is a very non-trivial protocol.  It has to deal with
fragmentation, re-assembly, retransmission and reordering,
calculating and verifying checksums, transmission window
control, packet filtering etc., and all of that includes
connections to localhost, too.

Compared to that, UNIX domain sockets are extremely simple.

 > Have you
 > measured a significant performance problem for yourself?

I have to admit that I haven't done any benchmarks myself.
The problem is that it's not easy (and takes much time) to
set up such benchmarks under realistic conditions and get
useful numbers.  I've found the following postings:

http://freebsd.rambler.ru/bsdmail/freebsd-stable_2005/msg07530.html
http://freebsd.rambler.ru/bsdmail/freebsd-stable_2005/msg07442.html

They don't relate to PostgreSQL, though, but to other apps
that can use TCP sockets and UNIX sockets.

Best regards
   Oliver

--
Oliver Fromme,  secnetix GmbH & Co. KG, Marktplatz 29, 85567 Grafing
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