Thread: pg_dump filling up root directory

pg_dump filling up root directory

From
David Rickard
Date:
PostgreSQL Version: 7.3.4
Environment: Solaris (SunOS 5.9) Ultra-250

We do a nightly export-and-analyze of our databases, using these commands:

        outfile=/data/export/${instance}~EXPORT~${ymd}.sql.tar
        su - ${pg_user} -c "${pg_home}/bin/pg_dump -c -C -D -F t -f ${outfile} ${instance}"
        gzip ${outfile}

        su - ${pg_user} -c "${pg_home}/bin/vacuumdb -a -f -z -v " > /usr/local/app/pgsql/log/vaclog.log 2>&1

where ${instance} is a database name;

During the dump, pg_dump writes something to the root directory (the /data/export/ directory is on an external drive), and on occasion, whatever is written to the root directory bloats, overfilling the root storage space:
 from /var/adm/messages:
     1  Apr  3 03:16:30 rutabaga -- MARK --
     2  Apr  3 03:36:30 rutabaga -- MARK --
     3  Apr  3 03:56:30 rutabaga -- MARK --
     4  Apr  3 04:00:00 rutabaga MAINT: [ID 702911 local5.info] /usr/local/gts/pgsql/maint/pgsql_daily.s
     5  Apr  3 04:16:30 rutabaga -- MARK --
     6  Apr  3 04:22:52 rutabaga ufs: [ID 845546 kern.notice] NOTICE: alloc: /: file system full
     7  Apr  3 04:36:30 rutabaga -- MARK --
     8  Apr  3 04:56:30 rutabaga -- MARK --


We've done some research and seen some possible causes/solutions--we would appreciate advice on the best approach (or better alternatives):

1) We suspect that pg_dump is using tmpfile while writting the export file: is this true? and if so, how do we (can we?) control where tmpfile writes during the export process?
2) We have seen references to piping the export to split to produce smaller output files: how practical is this? will it counter the tmpfile bloating (if that is what is happening)? if practical and effective, does anyone know of a "best-practice" line count value to pass to split?


--

David Rickard
Software Engineer
The GTS Companies
A TechBooks Company

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Re: pg_dump filling up root directory

From
Tom Lane
Date:
David Rickard <David.Rickard@GTScompanies.com> writes:
> 1) We suspect that pg_dump is using tmpfile while writting the export file:

I believe this is true when you use the tar output format.  The simplest
solution is to use custom format instead (-Fc instead of -Ft).

> is this true? and if so, how do we (can we?) control where tmpfile writes
> during the export process?

AFAIR you can't change it without hacking the source code.

            regards, tom lane