Tuning random_page_cost

From: "Markus Wollny" <Markus(dot)Wollny(at)computec(dot)de>
To: <pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: Tuning random_page_cost
Date: 2004-07-13 11:30:29
Message-ID: 2266D0630E43BB4290742247C891057505AFCC66@dozer.computec.de
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Hi!

I've got a query that has a where clause on a timestamp field:

select t.board_id
, t.thread_id
from public.board_thread t
where t.last_reply <= now()-'6 months'::interval
limit 1

I've got random_page_cost set to 1.4 which is fine for most queries; yet
here the planner prefers a (slower) sequential scan:

QUERY PLAN
Limit (cost=0.00..0.14 rows=1 width=8) (actual time=2.598..2.600 rows=1
loops=1)
-> Seq Scan on board_thread t (cost=0.00..4613.87 rows=33674
width=8) (actual time=2.592..2.592 rows=1 loops=1)
Filter: (last_reply <= (now() - '6 mons'::interval))
Total runtime: 2.711 ms

When I set random_page_cost extremely low, the planner makes a better
decision; the "breaking point" ist at set random_page_cost = 0.16938,
which seems much to unrealistic to use as a general setting:

QUERY PLAN
Limit (cost=0.00..0.14 rows=1 width=8) (actual time=0.142..0.143 rows=1
loops=1)
-> Index Scan using idx_bt_last_reply on board_thread t
(cost=0.00..4613.72 rows=33674 width=8) (actual time=0.137..0.137 rows=1
loops=1)
Index Cond: (last_reply <= (now() - '6 mons'::interval))
Total runtime: 0.281 ms

When I change my query slightly so as to retrieve only rows with an
"equals" match, the planner prefers the index-scan alright, even with
the 1.4-setting:

select t.board_id
, t.thread_id
from public.board_thread t
where t.last_reply <= now()-'6 months'::interval
limit 1

QUERY PLAN
Limit (cost=0.00..1.83 rows=1 width=8) (actual time=0.321..0.321 rows=0
loops=1)
-> Index Scan using idx_bt_last_reply on board_thread t
(cost=0.00..3.66 rows=2 width=8) (actual time=0.315..0.315 rows=0
loops=1)
Index Cond: (last_reply = (now() - '6 mons'::interval))
Total runtime: 0.457 ms

Now here's my question: Is there some other screw to turn in order to
tune general planner behaviour so it better matches this specific kind
of query, too, or is it preferrable to leave general settings as they
are and just use a set enable_seqscan = off; before this type of query?

Kind regards

Markus

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