Auto Vacuum out of memory

Good day!

We bought a new WinXP x64 Professional, it has 12GB memory.

I installed postgresql-8.4.1-1-windows version on this PC, also installed
another .Net application which reads in data from a TCP port and
insert/update the database, the data volume is large, with heavy writing and
updating on a partitioned table.

I configured the PostgreSQL as below:

Shared_buffers=1024MB
effective_cache_size=5120MB
work_mem=32MB
maintenance_work_men=200MB

But I got the Auto Vacuum out-of-memory error. The detailed configuration is
as follows, can anyone suggest what is the best configuration from the
performance perspective?

# -----------------------------
# PostgreSQL configuration file
# -----------------------------
#
# This file consists of lines of the form:
#
# name = value
#
# (The "=" is optional.) Whitespace may be used. Comments are introduced
with # "#" anywhere on a line. The complete list of parameter names and
allowed # values can be found in the PostgreSQL documentation.
#
# The commented-out settings shown in this file represent the default
values.
# Re-commenting a setting is NOT sufficient to revert it to the default
value; # you need to reload the server.
#
# This file is read on server startup and when the server receives a SIGHUP
# signal. If you edit the file on a running system, you have to SIGHUP the
# server for the changes to take effect, or use "pg_ctl reload". Some #
parameters, which are marked below, require a server shutdown and restart to
# take effect.
#
# Any parameter can also be given as a command-line option to the server,
e.g., # "postgres -c log_connections=on". Some parameters can be changed at
run time # with the "SET" SQL command.
#
# Memory units: kB = kilobytes Time units: ms = milliseconds
# MB = megabytes s = seconds
# GB = gigabytes min = minutes
# h = hours
# d = days

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# FILE LOCATIONS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# The default values of these variables are driven from the -D command-line
# option or PGDATA environment variable, represented here as ConfigDir.

#data_directory = 'ConfigDir' # use data in another directory
# (change requires restart)
#hba_file = 'ConfigDir/pg_hba.conf' # host-based authentication file
# (change requires restart)
#ident_file = 'ConfigDir/pg_ident.conf' # ident configuration file
# (change requires restart)

# If external_pid_file is not explicitly set, no extra PID file is written.
#external_pid_file = '(none)' # write an extra PID file
# (change requires restart)

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# CONNECTIONS AND AUTHENTICATION
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Connection Settings -

listen_addresses = '*' # what IP address(es) to listen on;
# comma-separated list of addresses;
# defaults to 'localhost', '*' = all
# (change requires restart)
port = 5432 # (change requires restart)
max_connections = 100 # (change requires restart)
# Note: Increasing max_connections costs ~400 bytes of shared memory per #
connection slot, plus lock space (see max_locks_per_transaction).
#superuser_reserved_connections = 3 # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_directory = '' # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_group = '' # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_permissions = 0777 # begin with 0 to use octal notation
# (change requires restart)
#bonjour_name = '' # defaults to the computer name
# (change requires restart)

# - Security and Authentication -

#authentication_timeout = 1min # 1s-600s
#ssl = off # (change requires restart)
#ssl_ciphers = 'ALL:!ADH:!LOW:!EXP:!MD5:@STRENGTH' # allowed SSL
ciphers
# (change requires restart)
#password_encryption = on
#db_user_namespace = off

# Kerberos and GSSAPI
#krb_server_keyfile = ''
#krb_srvname = 'postgres' # (Kerberos only)
#krb_caseins_users = off

# - TCP Keepalives -
# see "man 7 tcp" for details

#tcp_keepalives_idle = 0 # TCP_KEEPIDLE, in seconds;
# 0 selects the system default
#tcp_keepalives_interval = 0 # TCP_KEEPINTVL, in seconds;
# 0 selects the system default
#tcp_keepalives_count = 0 # TCP_KEEPCNT;
# 0 selects the system default

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# RESOURCE USAGE (except WAL)
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Memory -

shared_buffers = 1024MB # min 128kB
# (change requires restart)
#temp_buffers = 8MB # min 800kB
#max_prepared_transactions = 0 # zero disables the feature
# (change requires restart)
# Note: Increasing max_prepared_transactions costs ~600 bytes of shared
memory # per transaction slot, plus lock space (see
max_locks_per_transaction).
# It is not advisable to set max_prepared_transactions nonzero unless you #
actively intend to use prepared transactions.

work_mem = 32MB # min 64kB
maintenance_work_mem=200MB
#max_stack_depth = 2MB # min 100kB

# - Kernel Resource Usage -

#max_files_per_process = 1000 # min 25
# (change requires restart)
#shared_preload_libraries = '' # (change requires restart)

# - Cost-Based Vacuum Delay -

#vacuum_cost_delay = 0ms # 0-100 milliseconds
#vacuum_cost_page_hit = 1 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_miss = 10 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_dirty = 20 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_limit = 200 # 1-10000 credits

# - Background Writer -

#bgwriter_delay = 200ms # 10-10000ms between rounds
#bgwriter_lru_maxpages = 100 # 0-1000 max buffers written/round
#bgwriter_lru_multiplier = 2.0 # 0-10.0 multipler on buffers
scanned/round

# - Asynchronous Behavior -

#effective_io_concurrency = 1 # 1-1000. 0 disables prefetching

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# WRITE AHEAD LOG
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Settings -

#fsync = on # turns forced synchronization on or
off
#synchronous_commit = on # immediate fsync at commit
#wal_sync_method = fsync # the default is the first option
# supported by the operating system:
# open_datasync
# fdatasync
# fsync
# fsync_writethrough
# open_sync
#full_page_writes = on # recover from partial page writes

wal_buffers = 256 # min 32kB
# (change requires restart)
#wal_writer_delay = 200ms # 1-10000 milliseconds

#commit_delay = 0 # range 0-100000, in microseconds
#commit_siblings = 5 # range 1-1000

# - Checkpoints -

checkpoint_segments =30
#checkpoint_timeout = 5min # range 30s-1h
#checkpoint_completion_target = 0.5 # checkpoint target duration, 0.0 -
1.0
#checkpoint_warning = 30s # 0 disables

# - Archiving -

#archive_mode = off # allows archiving to be done
# (change requires restart)
#archive_command = '' # command to use to archive a logfile
segment
#archive_timeout = 0 # force a logfile segment switch after this
# number of seconds; 0 disables

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# QUERY TUNING
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Planner Method Configuration -

#enable_bitmapscan = on
#enable_hashagg = on
#enable_hashjoin = on
#enable_indexscan = on
#enable_mergejoin = on
#enable_nestloop = on
#enable_seqscan = on
#enable_sort = on
#enable_tidscan = on

# - Planner Cost Constants -

#seq_page_cost = 1.0 # measured on an arbitrary scale
random_page_cost = 4.0 # same scale as above
#cpu_tuple_cost = 0.01 # same scale as above
#cpu_index_tuple_cost = 0.005 # same scale as above
#cpu_operator_cost = 0.0025 # same scale as above
effective_cache_size =5120MB

# - Genetic Query Optimizer -

#geqo = on
#geqo_threshold = 12
#geqo_effort = 5 # range 1-10
#geqo_pool_size = 0 # selects default based on effort
#geqo_generations = 0 # selects default based on effort
#geqo_selection_bias = 2.0 # range 1.5-2.0

# - Other Planner Options -

#default_statistics_target = 100 # range 1-10000
#constraint_exclusion = partition # on, off, or partition
#cursor_tuple_fraction = 0.1 # range 0.0-1.0
#from_collapse_limit = 8
#join_collapse_limit = 8 # 1 disables collapsing of explicit
# JOIN clauses

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# ERROR REPORTING AND LOGGING
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Where to Log -

log_destination = 'stderr' # Valid values are combinations of
# stderr, csvlog, syslog and
eventlog,
# depending on platform. csvlog
# requires logging_collector to be
on.

# This is used when logging to stderr:
logging_collector = on # Enable capturing of stderr and csvlog
# into log files. Required to be on
for
# csvlogs.
# (change requires restart)

# These are only used if logging_collector is on:
#log_directory = 'pg_log' # directory where log files are
written,
# can be absolute or relative to
PGDATA
log_filename = 'postgresql_%H.log' # log file name pattern,
# can include strftime() escapes
log_truncate_on_rotation = on # If on, an existing log file of the
# same name as the new log file will
be
# truncated rather than appended to.
# But such truncation only occurs on
# time-driven rotation, not on
restarts
# or size-driven rotation. Default
is
# off, meaning append to existing
files
# in all cases.
log_rotation_age = 60 # Automatic rotation of logfiles
will
# happen after that time. 0
disables.
log_rotation_size = 100000 # Automatic rotation of logfiles
will
# happen after that much log output.
# 0 disables.

# These are relevant when logging to syslog:
#syslog_facility = 'LOCAL0'
#syslog_ident = 'postgres'

#silent_mode = off # Run server silently.
# DO NOT USE without syslog or
# logging_collector
# (change requires restart)

# - When to Log -

client_min_messages = error # values in order of decreasing
detail:
# debug5
# debug4
# debug3
# debug2
# debug1
# log
# notice
# warning
# error

log_min_messages = error # values in order of decreasing
detail:
# debug5
# debug4
# debug3
# debug2
# debug1
# info
# notice
# warning
# error
# log
# fatal
# panic

#log_error_verbosity = default # terse, default, or verbose
messages

#log_min_error_statement = error # values in order of decreasing
detail:
# debug5
# debug4
# debug3
# debug2
# debug1
# info
# notice
# warning
# error
# log
# fatal
# panic (effectively off)

#log_min_duration_statement = -1 # -1 is disabled, 0 logs all
statements
# and their durations, > 0 logs only
# statements running at least this
number
# of milliseconds

# - What to Log -

#debug_print_parse = off
#debug_print_rewritten = off
#debug_print_plan = off
#debug_pretty_print = on
#log_checkpoints = off
#log_connections = off
#log_disconnections = off
#log_duration = off
#log_hostname = off
log_line_prefix = '%t' # special values:
# %u = user name
# %d = database name
# %r = remote host and port
# %h = remote host
# %p = process ID
# %t = timestamp without
milliseconds
# %m = timestamp with milliseconds
# %i = command tag
# %c = session ID
# %l = session line number
# %s = session start timestamp
# %v = virtual transaction ID
# %x = transaction ID (0 if none)
# %q = stop here in non-session
# processes
# %% = '%'
# e.g. '<%u%%%d> '
#log_lock_waits = off # log lock waits >= deadlock_timeout
#log_statement = 'none' # none, ddl, mod, all
#log_temp_files = -1 # log temporary files equal or
larger
# than the specified size in
kilobytes;
# -1 disables, 0 logs all temp files
#log_timezone = unknown # actually, defaults to TZ
environment
# setting

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# RUNTIME STATISTICS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Query/Index Statistics Collector -

#track_activities = on
track_counts = on
#track_functions = none # none, pl, all
#track_activity_query_size = 1024
#update_process_title = on
#stats_temp_directory = 'pg_stat_tmp'

# - Statistics Monitoring -

#log_parser_stats = off
#log_planner_stats = off
#log_executor_stats = off
#log_statement_stats = off

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# AUTOVACUUM PARAMETERS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

autovacuum = true # Enable autovacuum subprocess?
'on'
# requires track_counts to also be
on.
#log_autovacuum_min_duration = -1 # -1 disables, 0 logs all actions
and
# their durations, > 0 logs only
# actions running at least this
number
# of milliseconds.
#autovacuum_max_workers = 3 # max number of autovacuum
subprocesses
#autovacuum_naptime = 1min # time between autovacuum runs
# NOTE: This parameter is been added by EnterpriseDB's Tuning Wiard on
2010/01/27 16:09:50
#autovacuum_naptime = 60 # time between autovacuum runs

autovacuum_vacuum_threshold = 1000 # min number of row updates before
# vacuum
autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 250 # min number of row updates before
# analyze

autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor = 0.2 # fraction of table size before
vacuum

autovacuum_analyze_scale_factor = 0.1 # fraction of table size before
analyze
#autovacuum_freeze_max_age = 200000000 # maximum XID age before forced
vacuum
# (change requires restart)
#autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay = 20ms # default vacuum cost delay for
# autovacuum, in milliseconds;
# -1 means use vacuum_cost_delay
#autovacuum_vacuum_cost_limit = -1 # default vacuum cost limit for
# autovacuum, -1 means use
# vacuum_cost_limit

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# CLIENT CONNECTION DEFAULTS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Statement Behavior -

#search_path = '"$user",public' # schema names
#default_tablespace = '' # a tablespace name, '' uses the
default
#temp_tablespaces = '' # a list of tablespace names, ''
uses
# only default tablespace
#check_function_bodies = on
#default_transaction_isolation = 'read committed'
#default_transaction_read_only = off
#session_replication_role = 'origin'
#statement_timeout = 0 # in milliseconds, 0 is disabled
#vacuum_freeze_min_age = 50000000
#vacuum_freeze_table_age = 150000000
#xmlbinary = 'base64'
#xmloption = 'content'

# - Locale and Formatting -

datestyle = 'iso, dmy'
#intervalstyle = 'postgres'
#timezone = unknown # actually, defaults to TZ
environment
# setting
#timezone_abbreviations = 'Default' # Select the set of available time
zone
# abbreviations. Currently, there
are
# Default
# Australia
# India
# You can create your own file in
# share/timezonesets/.
#extra_float_digits = 0 # min -15, max 2
#client_encoding = sql_ascii # actually, defaults to database
# encoding

# These settings are initialized by initdb, but they can be changed.
lc_messages = 'English_United Kingdom.1252' # locale for
system error message
# strings
lc_monetary = 'English_United Kingdom.1252' # locale for
monetary formatting
lc_numeric = 'English_United Kingdom.1252' # locale for
number formatting
lc_time = 'English_United Kingdom.1252' # locale for
time formatting

# default configuration for text search
default_text_search_config = 'pg_catalog.english'

# - Other Defaults -

#dynamic_library_path = '$libdir'
#local_preload_libraries = ''

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# LOCK MANAGEMENT
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

#deadlock_timeout = 1s
max_locks_per_transaction = 150 # min 10
# (change requires restart)
# Note: Each lock table slot uses ~270 bytes of shared memory, and there
are # max_locks_per_transaction * (max_connections +
max_prepared_transactions) # lock table slots.

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# VERSION/PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Previous PostgreSQL Versions -

#add_missing_from = off
#array_nulls = on
#backslash_quote = safe_encoding # on, off, or safe_encoding
#default_with_oids = off
#escape_string_warning = on
#regex_flavor = advanced # advanced, extended, or basic
#sql_inheritance = on
#standard_conforming_strings = off
#synchronize_seqscans = on

# - Other Platforms and Clients -

#transform_null_equals = off

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# CUSTOMIZED OPTIONS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

#custom_variable_classes = '' # list of custom variable class
names

Best Regards

Rose Zhou