BUG #4513: VACUUM FULL fails with "out of memory" error - Mailing list pgsql-bugs

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference:      4513
Logged by:          Alexey Bashtanov
Email address:      bashtanov@imap.cc
PostgreSQL version: 8.3.1
Operating system:   Red Hat Linux  2.6.20-1.2320.fc5smp i686
Description:        VACUUM FULL fails with "out of memory" error
Details:

Hello!

Such a thing happens: when I make an attempt to vacuum full a table it waits
some minutes and then throws an error:

ERROR:  out of memory
DETAIL:  Failed on request of size 288.

It doesn't matter I set maintenance_work_mem to 16MB, 200MB or 1GB.

This table is bad enough: it has a size of 154G but "explain select *" says
there are only 524597 rows (and that value seems to be near to true). It is
not wide: integer, integer, character varying(10), integer, character
varying(3), date, integer.

Here's the part of serverlog:
==========
TopMemoryContext: 49416 total in 6 blocks; 8776 free (46 chunks); 40640
used
  TopTransactionContext: 2986336304 total in 367 blocks; 192312 free (1088
chunks); 2986143992 used
  Type information cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1800 free (0 chunks); 6392
used
  Operator class cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3848 free (0 chunks); 4344
used
  Record information cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1800 free (0 chunks);
6392 used
  Operator lookup cache: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 14072 free (6 chunks);
10504 used
  MessageContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5664 free (0 chunks); 2528 used
  smgr relation table: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 2808 free (0 chunks); 5384
used
  TransactionAbortContext: 32768 total in 1 blocks; 32752 free (0 chunks);
16 used
  Portal hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3912 free (0 chunks); 4280 used
  PortalMemory: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8040 free (0 chunks); 152 used
    PortalHeapMemory: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 2928 free (8 chunks); 144
used
      Vacuum: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7872 free (0 chunks); 320 used
  Relcache by OID: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3376 free (0 chunks); 4816 used
  CacheMemoryContext: 667472 total in 20 blocks; 108288 free (0 chunks);
559184 used
    pg_index_indrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
    pg_settings: 15360 total in 4 blocks; 6912 free (0 chunks); 8448 used
    pg_ts_dict_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_aggregate_fnoid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
    pg_language_name_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_statistic_relid_att_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
    pg_ts_dict_dictname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
    pg_namespace_nspname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
    pg_opfamily_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_opclass_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_ts_parser_prsname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
    pg_amop_fam_strat_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 88 free (0 chunks); 936
used
    pg_opclass_am_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 152 free (0
chunks); 872 used
    pg_trigger_tgrelid_tgname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
    pg_cast_source_target_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
    pg_auth_members_role_member_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
    pg_attribute_relid_attnum_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
    pg_ts_config_cfgname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
    pg_authid_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_ts_config_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_conversion_default_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 128 free (0
chunks); 896 used
    pg_language_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_enum_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_proc_proname_args_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 152 free (0
chunks); 872 used
    pg_ts_parser_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
    pg_database_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_conversion_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
    pg_class_relname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0 chunks);
784 used
    pg_attribute_relid_attnam_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
    pg_class_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_amproc_fam_proc_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 88 free (0 chunks);
936 used
    pg_operator_oprname_l_r_n_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 88 free (0
chunks); 936 used
    pg_index_indexrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
    pg_type_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_rewrite_rel_rulename_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
    pg_authid_rolname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
    pg_auth_members_member_role_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
    pg_enum_typid_label_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
    pg_constraint_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks);
680 used
    pg_conversion_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks);
680 used
    pg_ts_template_tmplname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
    pg_ts_config_map_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 192 free (0 chunks); 832
used
    pg_namespace_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_type_typname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0 chunks);
784 used
    pg_operator_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_amop_opr_fam_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0 chunks); 784
used
    pg_proc_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
    pg_opfamily_am_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 192 free (0
chunks); 832 used
    pg_ts_template_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks);
680 used
  MdSmgr: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 4384 free (0 chunks); 3808 used
  LOCALLOCK hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3912 free (0 chunks); 4280 used
  Timezones: 48616 total in 2 blocks; 5968 free (0 chunks); 42648 used
  ErrorContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8176 free (3 chunks); 16 used
[2008-11-05 13:27:33.064 PST] ERROR:  out of memory
==========

And here's my postgresql.conf
==========
# -----------------------------
# 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 paramters can be changed at run
time
# with the "SET" SQL command.
#
# Memory units:  kB = kilobytes MB = megabytes GB = gigabytes
# Time units:    ms = milliseconds s = seconds 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 = 'localhost'        # 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).  You
might
# also need to raise shared_buffers to support more connections.
#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 = ''        # (change requires restart)
#krb_srvname = 'postgres'        # (change requires restart, Kerberos only)
#krb_server_hostname = ''        # empty string matches any keytab entry
                    # (change requires restart, Kerberos only)
#krb_caseins_users = off        # (change requires restart)
#krb_realm = ''                   # (change requires restart)

# - 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 = 200MB            # min 128kB or max_connections*16kB
                    # (change requires restart)
#temp_buffers = 8MB            # min 800kB
#max_prepared_transactions = 5        # can be 0 or more
                    # (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).
work_mem = 10MB                # min 64kB
#maintenance_work_mem = 16MB        # min 1MB
#max_stack_depth = 2MB            # min 100kB

# - Free Space Map -

max_fsm_pages = 153600            # min max_fsm_relations*16, 6 bytes each
                    # (change requires restart)
#max_fsm_relations = 1000        # min 100, ~70 bytes each
                    # (change requires restart)

# - 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 = 0            # 0-1000 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


#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# 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 = 64kB            # 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 = 100        # in logfile segments, min 1, 16MB each
#checkpoint_timeout = 5min        # range 30s-1h
#checkpoint_completion_target = 0.5    # checkpoint target duration, 0.0 - 1.0
#checkpoint_warning = 30s        # 0 is off

# - 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
                # time; 0 is off


#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# 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 = 128MB

# - 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 = 10        # range 1-1000
constraint_exclusion = on
#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 = off        # 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-%Y-%m-%d_%H%M%S.log'    # log file name pattern,
                    # can include strftime() escapes
#log_truncate_on_rotation = off        # 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 = 1d            # Automatic rotation of logfiles will
                    # happen after that time.  0 to disable.
#log_rotation_size = 10MB        # Automatic rotation of logfiles will
                    # happen after that much log output.
                    # 0 to disable.

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


# - When to Log -

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

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

log_error_verbosity = terse        # terse, default, or verbose messages

log_min_error_statement = log        # 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 time.

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

# - What to Log -

#debug_print_parse = off
#debug_print_rewritten = off
#debug_print_plan = off
#debug_pretty_print = off
#log_checkpoints = off
log_connections = off
log_disconnections = off
#log_duration = off
#log_hostname = off
log_line_prefix = '[%m] '            # 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 specified size;
                    # -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
#update_process_title = on


# - Statistics Monitoring -

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


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

autovacuum = on                # 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 that time.
#autovacuum_max_workers = 3        # max number of autovacuum subprocesses
#autovacuum_naptime = 1min        # time between autovacuum runs
#autovacuum_vacuum_threshold = 50    # min number of row updates before
                    # vacuum
#autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 50    # 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 = 20    # default vacuum cost delay for
                    # autovacuum, -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            # 0 is disabled
#vacuum_freeze_min_age = 100000000
#xmlbinary = 'base64'
#xmloption = 'content'

# - Locale and Formatting -

datestyle = 'iso, mdy'
#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 = 'en_US.UTF-8'            # locale for system error message
                    # strings
lc_monetary = 'en_US.UTF-8'            # locale for monetary formatting
lc_numeric = 'en_US.UTF-8'            # locale for number formatting
lc_time = 'en_US.UTF-8'                # locale for time formatting

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

# - Other Defaults -

#explain_pretty_print = on
#dynamic_library_path = '$libdir'
#local_preload_libraries = ''


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

#deadlock_timeout = 1s
#max_locks_per_transaction = 64        # 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 = off
#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
==========