Re: select on 22 GB table causes "An I/O error occured while sending to the backend." exception

In response to Greg Smith <gsmith@gregsmith.com>:

> On Thu, 28 Aug 2008, Bill Moran wrote:
>
> > In linux, it's possible to tell the OOM killer never to consider
> > certain processes for the axe, using /proc magic.  See this page:
> > http://linux-mm.org/OOM_Killer
> >
> > Perhaps this should be in the PostgreSQL docs somewhere?
>
> The fact that
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/kernel-resources.html#AEN22218
> tells you to flat-out turn off overcommit is the right conservative thing
> to be in the documentation as I see it.  Sure, it's possible to keep it on
> but disable the worst side-effect in some kernels (looks like 2.6.11+, so
> no RHEL4 for example).  Trying to get into all in the manual is kind of
> pushing what's appropriate for the PostgreSQL docs I think.

I don't know, Greg.  First off, the solution of making the postmaster
immune to the OOM killer seems better than disabling overcommit to me
anyway; and secondly, I don't understand why we should avoid making
the PG documentation as comprehensive as possible, which seems to be
what you are saying: "we shouldn't make the PG documentation too
comprehensive, because then it will get very big"

--
Bill Moran
Collaborative Fusion Inc.
http://people.collaborativefusion.com/~wmoran/

wmoran@collaborativefusion.com
Phone: 412-422-3463x4023