PostgreSQL with Zabbix - problem of newbe - Mailing list pgsql-performance

Hi,
I am using zabbix monitoring software. The backbone database for
zabbix is postgresql 8.1 installed od linux.

Database server has 3GB of RAM, 1 CPU Dual Core and 2 SAS disks in RAID 1.

Zabbix makes a lot of inserts and updates on database.  The problem is
that when autovaccum starts the database freezes.
I am trying to make better performance, I have read a lot of documents
and sites about performance tunning but still no luck.

My current database variables:

 add_missing_from                | off
  | Automatically adds missing table references to FROM
 clauses.
 archive_command                 | unset
  | WAL archiving command.
 australian_timezones            | off
  | Interprets ACST, CST, EST, and SAT as Australian ti
me zones.
 authentication_timeout          | 60
  | Sets the maximum time in seconds to complete client
 authentication.
 autovacuum                      | on
  | Starts the autovacuum subprocess.
 autovacuum_analyze_scale_factor | 0.1
  | Number of tuple inserts, updates or deletes prior t
o analyze as a fraction of reltuples.
 autovacuum_analyze_threshold    | 5000
  | Minimum number of tuple inserts, updates or deletes
 prior to analyze.
 autovacuum_naptime              | 60
  | Time to sleep between autovacuum runs, in seconds.
 autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay    | -1
  | Vacuum cost delay in milliseconds, for autovacuum.
 autovacuum_vacuum_cost_limit    | -1
  | Vacuum cost amount available before napping, for au
tovacuum.
 autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor  | 0.2
  | Number of tuple updates or deletes prior to vacuum
as a fraction of reltuples.
 autovacuum_vacuum_threshold     | 100000
  | Minimum number of tuple updates or deletes prior to
 vacuum.
 backslash_quote                 | safe_encoding
  | Sets whether "\'" is allowed in string literals.
 bgwriter_all_maxpages           | 5
  | Background writer maximum number of all pages to fl
ush per round
 bgwriter_all_percent            | 0.333
  | Background writer percentage of all buffers to flus
h per round
 bgwriter_delay                  | 200
  | Background writer sleep time between rounds in mill
iseconds
 bgwriter_lru_maxpages           | 5
  | Background writer maximum number of LRU pages to fl
ush per round
 bgwriter_lru_percent            | 1
  | Background writer percentage of LRU buffers to flus
h per round
 block_size                      | 8192
  | Shows size of a disk block
 bonjour_name                    | unset
  | Sets the Bonjour broadcast service name.
 check_function_bodies           | on
  | Check function bodies during CREATE FUNCTION.
 checkpoint_segments             | 32
  | Sets the maximum distance in log segments between a
utomatic WAL checkpoints.
 checkpoint_timeout              | 300
  | Sets the maximum time in seconds between automatic
WAL checkpoints.
 checkpoint_warning              | 30
  | Logs if filling of checkpoint segments happens more
 frequently than this (in seconds).
 client_encoding                 | UTF8
  | Sets the client's character set encoding.
 client_min_messages             | notice
  | Sets the message levels that are sent to the client
.
 commit_delay                    | 0
  | Sets the delay in microseconds between transaction
commit and flushing WAL to disk.
 commit_siblings                 | 5
  | Sets the minimum concurrent open transactions befor
e performing commit_delay.
 config_file                     | /var/lib/pgsql/data/postgresql.conf
  | Sets the server's main configuration file.
 constraint_exclusion            | off
  | Enables the planner to use constraints to optimize
queries.
 cpu_index_tuple_cost            | 0.001
  | Sets the planner's estimate of processing cost for
each index tuple (row) during index scan.
 cpu_operator_cost               | 0.0025
  | Sets the planner's estimate of processing cost of e
ach operator in WHERE.
 cpu_tuple_cost                  | 0.01
  | Sets the planner's estimate of the cost of processi
ng each tuple (row).
 custom_variable_classes         | unset
  | Sets the list of known custom variable classes.
 data_directory                  | /var/lib/pgsql/data
  | Sets the server's data directory.
 DateStyle                       | ISO, MDY
  | Sets the display format for date and time values.
 db_user_namespace               | off
  | Enables per-database user names.
 deadlock_timeout                | 1000
  | The time in milliseconds to wait on lock before che
cking for deadlock.
 debug_pretty_print              | off
  | Indents parse and plan tree displays.
 debug_print_parse               | off
  | Prints the parse tree to the server log.
 debug_print_plan                | off
  | Prints the execution plan to server log.
 debug_print_rewritten           | off
  | Prints the parse tree after rewriting to server log
.
 default_statistics_target       | 100
  | Sets the default statistics target.
 default_tablespace              | unset
  | Sets the default tablespace to create tables and in
dexes in.
 default_transaction_isolation   | read committed
  | Sets the transaction isolation level of each new tr
ansaction.
 default_transaction_read_only   | off
  | Sets the default read-only status of new transactio
ns.
 default_with_oids               | off
  | Create new tables with OIDs by default.
 dynamic_library_path            | $libdir
  | Sets the path for dynamically loadable modules.
 effective_cache_size            | 190000
  | Sets the planner's assumption about size of the dis
k cache.
 enable_bitmapscan               | on
  | Enables the planner's use of bitmap-scan plans.
 enable_hashagg                  | on
  | Enables the planner's use of hashed aggregation pla
ns.
 enable_hashjoin                 | on
  | Enables the planner's use of hash join plans.
 enable_indexscan                | on
  | Enables the planner's use of index-scan plans.
 enable_mergejoin                | on
  | Enables the planner's use of merge join plans.
 enable_nestloop                 | on
  | Enables the planner's use of nested-loop join plans
.
 enable_seqscan                  | on
  | Enables the planner's use of sequential-scan plans.
 enable_sort                     | on
  | Enables the planner's use of explicit sort steps.
 enable_tidscan                  | on
  | Enables the planner's use of TID scan plans.
 escape_string_warning           | off
  | Warn about backslash escapes in ordinary string lit
erals.
 explain_pretty_print            | on
  | Uses the indented output format for EXPLAIN VERBOSE
.
 external_pid_file               | unset
  | Writes the postmaster PID to the specified file.
 extra_float_digits              | 0
  | Sets the number of digits displayed for floating-po
int values.
 from_collapse_limit             | 8
  | Sets the FROM-list size beyond which subqueries are
 not collapsed.
 fsync                           | on
  | Forces synchronization of updates to disk.
 full_page_writes                | on
  | Writes full pages to WAL when first modified after
a checkpoint.
 geqo                            | on
  | Enables genetic query optimization.
 geqo_effort                     | 5
  | GEQO: effort is used to set the default for other G
EQO parameters.
 geqo_generations                | 0
  | GEQO: number of iterations of the algorithm.
 geqo_pool_size                  | 0
  | GEQO: number of individuals in the population.
 geqo_selection_bias             | 2
  | GEQO: selective pressure within the population.
 geqo_threshold                  | 12
  | Sets the threshold of FROM items beyond which GEQO
is used.
 hba_file                        | /var/lib/pgsql/data/pg_hba.conf
  | Sets the server's "hba" configuration file
 ident_file                      | /var/lib/pgsql/data/pg_ident.conf
  | Sets the server's "ident" configuration file
 integer_datetimes               | off
  | Datetimes are integer based.
 join_collapse_limit             | 8
  | Sets the FROM-list size beyond which JOIN construct
s are not flattened.
 krb_caseins_users               | off
  | Sets whether Kerberos user names should be treated
as case-insensitive.
 krb_server_hostname             | unset
  | Sets the hostname of the Kerberos server.
 krb_server_keyfile              |
FILE:/etc/sysconfig/pgsql/krb5.keytab | Sets the location of the
Kerberos server key file.
 krb_srvname                     | postgres
  | Sets the name of the Kerberos service.
 lc_collate                      | pl_PL.UTF-8
  | Shows the collation order locale.
 lc_ctype                        | pl_PL.UTF-8
  | Shows the character classification and case convers
ion locale.
 lc_messages                     | pl_PL.UTF-8
  | Sets the language in which messages are displayed.
 lc_monetary                     | pl_PL.UTF-8
  | Sets the locale for formatting monetary amounts.
 lc_numeric                      | pl_PL.UTF-8
  | Sets the locale for formatting numbers.
 lc_time                         | pl_PL.UTF-8
  | Sets the locale for formatting date and time values
.
 listen_addresses                | *
  | Sets the host name or IP address(es) to listen to.
 log_connections                 | off
  | Logs each successful connection.
 log_destination                 | stderr
  | Sets the destination for server log output.
 log_directory                   | pg_log
  | Sets the destination directory for log files.
 log_disconnections              | off
  | Logs end of a session, including duration.
 log_duration                    | off
  | Logs the duration of each completed SQL statement.
 log_error_verbosity             | default
  | Sets the verbosity of logged messages.
 log_executor_stats              | off
  | Writes executor performance statistics to the serve
r log.
 log_filename                    | postgresql-%a.log
  | Sets the file name pattern for log files.
 log_hostname                    | off
  | Logs the host name in the connection logs.
 log_line_prefix                 | unset
  | Controls information prefixed to each log line
 log_min_duration_statement      | -1
  | Sets the minimum execution time in milliseconds abo
ve which statements will be logged.
 log_min_error_statement         | panic
  | Causes all statements generating error at or above
this level to be logged.
 log_min_messages                | notice
  | Sets the message levels that are logged.
 log_parser_stats                | off
  | Writes parser performance statistics to the server
log.
 log_planner_stats               | off
  | Writes planner performance statistics to the server
 log.
 log_rotation_age                | 1440
  | Automatic log file rotation will occur after N minu
tes
 log_rotation_size               | 0
  | Automatic log file rotation will occur after N kilo
bytes
 log_statement                   | none
  | Sets the type of statements logged.
 log_statement_stats             | off
  | Writes cumulative performance statistics to the ser
ver log.
 log_truncate_on_rotation        | on
  | Truncate existing log files of same name during log
 rotation.
 maintenance_work_mem            | 256000
  | Sets the maximum memory to be used for maintenance
operations.
 max_connections                 | 400
  | Sets the maximum number of concurrent connections.
 max_files_per_process           | 1000
  | Sets the maximum number of simultaneously open file
s for each server process.
 max_fsm_pages                   | 1000000
  | Sets the maximum number of disk pages for which fre
e space is tracked.
 max_fsm_relations               | 1000
  | Sets the maximum number of tables and indexes for w
hich free space is tracked.
 max_function_args               | 100
  | Shows the maximum number of function arguments.
 max_identifier_length           | 63
  | Shows the maximum identifier length
 max_index_keys                  | 32
  | Shows the maximum number of index keys.
 max_locks_per_transaction       | 64
  | Sets the maximum number of locks per transaction.
 max_prepared_transactions       | 100
  | Sets the maximum number of simultaneously prepared
transactions.
 max_stack_depth                 | 10240
  | Sets the maximum stack depth, in kilobytes.
 password_encryption             | off
  | Encrypt passwords.
 port                            | 5432
  | Sets the TCP port the server listens on.
 pre_auth_delay                  | 0
  | no description available
 preload_libraries               | unset
  | Lists shared libraries to preload into server.
 random_page_cost                | 3
  | Sets the planner's estimate of the cost of a nonseq
uentially fetched disk page.
 redirect_stderr                 | on
  | Start a subprocess to capture stderr output into lo
g files.
 regex_flavor                    | advanced
  | Sets the regular expression "flavor".
 search_path                     | $user,public
  | Sets the schema search order for names that are not
 schema-qualified.
 server_encoding                 | UTF8
  | Sets the server (database) character set encoding.
 server_version                  | 8.1.11
  | Shows the server version.
 shared_buffers                  | 95000
  | Sets the number of shared memory buffers used by th
e server.
 silent_mode                     | off
  | Runs the server silently.
 sql_inheritance                 | on
  | Causes subtables to be included by default in vario
us commands.
 ssl                             | off
  | Enables SSL connections.
 standard_conforming_strings     | off
  | '...' strings treat backslashes literally.
 statement_timeout               | 0
  | Sets the maximum allowed duration (in milliseconds)
 of any statement.
 stats_block_level               | on
  | Collects block-level statistics on database activit
y.
 stats_command_string            | on
  | Collects statistics about executing commands.
 stats_reset_on_server_start     | off
  | Zeroes collected statistics on server restart.
 stats_row_level                 | on
  | Collects row-level statistics on database activity.
 stats_start_collector           | on
  | Starts the server statistics-collection subprocess.
 superuser_reserved_connections  | 2
  | Sets the number of connection slots reserved for su
perusers.
 syslog_facility                 | LOCAL0
  | Sets the syslog "facility" to be used when syslog e
nabled.
 syslog_ident                    | postgres
  | Sets the program name used to identify PostgreSQL m
essages in syslog.
 tcp_keepalives_count            | 0
  | Maximum number of TCP keepalive retransmits.
 tcp_keepalives_idle             | 0
  | Seconds between issuing TCP keepalives.
 tcp_keepalives_interval         | 0
  | Seconds between TCP keepalive retransmits.
 temp_buffers                    | 1000
  | Sets the maximum number of temporary buffers used b
y each session.
 TimeZone                        | Poland
  | Sets the time zone for displaying and interpreting
time stamps.
 trace_notify                    | off
  | Generates debugging output for LISTEN and NOTIFY.
 trace_sort                      | off
  | Emit information about resource usage in sorting.
 transaction_isolation           | read committed
  | Sets the current transaction's isolation level.
 transaction_read_only           | off
  | Sets the current transaction's read-only status.
 transform_null_equals           | off
  | Treats "expr=NULL" as "expr IS NULL".
 unix_socket_directory           | unset
  | Sets the directory where the Unix-domain socket wil
l be created.
 unix_socket_group               | unset
  | Sets the owning group of the Unix-domain socket.
 unix_socket_permissions         | 511
  | Sets the access permissions of the Unix-domain sock
et.
 vacuum_cost_delay               | 10
  | Vacuum cost delay in milliseconds.
 vacuum_cost_limit               | 200
  | Vacuum cost amount available before napping.
 vacuum_cost_page_dirty          | 20
  | Vacuum cost for a page dirtied by vacuum.
 vacuum_cost_page_hit            | 1
  | Vacuum cost for a page found in the buffer cache.
 vacuum_cost_page_miss           | 10
  | Vacuum cost for a page not found in the buffer cach
e.
 wal_buffers                     | 2000
  | Sets the number of disk-page buffers in shared memo
ry for WAL.
 wal_sync_method                 | fdatasync
  | Selects the method used for forcing WAL updates out
 to disk.
 work_mem                        | 1600000
  | Sets the maximum memory to be used for query worksp
aces.
 zero_damaged_pages              | off
  | Continues processing past damaged page headers.
(163 rows)

I would be very grateful for any help.

Greetings for all.