Re: WAL on a RAM disk

* David Parker (dparker(at)tazznetworks(dot)com) wrote:
> As part of our application we are running a postgres server on a RAM
> disk. All of the data stored in this database is obviously disposable,
> and we need to optimize access as much as possible. This is on Solaris
> 9/intel, postgres 7.4.5. Some things I'm wondering about:
>
> 1) is it possible to turn off WAL entirely? If not, what configuration
> of WAL/Checkpoint settings would result in minimal WAL activity?

I doubt you can turn it off... I would guess that a larger number of
WAL logs would reduce the recycling which would require slightly less
activity, I think, but it'd take up memory space, so...

> 2) Given that the whole database is in memory, does it make sense to set
> random_page_cost to a high value...or, um... a low value? (Does it show
> that I don't understand this parameter?)

Should be a lower value, it's a 'cost'.

> 3) Any other settings I should be looking at?
>
> Thanks. I don't know if anybody else has done this, but I'd be
> interested to hear about it, if so.

Please send results you find to the list, I'm certainly interested in
hearing how this turns out...

Stephen