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Diffstat (limited to 'doc/FAQ')
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@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PostgreSQL - Last updated: Thu May 18 23:52:32 EDT 2006 + Last updated: Mon Oct 9 20:28:14 EDT 2006 - Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (pgman@candle.pha.pa.us) + Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (bruce@momjian.us) The most recent version of this document can be viewed at http://www.postgresql.org/files/documentation/faqs/FAQ.html. @@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ 1.3) What is the copyright of PostgreSQL? 1.4) What platforms does PostgreSQL support? 1.5) Where can I get PostgreSQL? - 1.6) What is the latest release? + 1.6) What is the most recent release? 1.7) Where can I get support? 1.8) How do I submit a bug report? 1.9) How do I find out about known bugs or missing features? @@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ 3.3) How do I tune the database engine for better performance? 3.4) What debugging features are available? 3.5) Why do I get "Sorry, too many clients" when trying to connect? - 3.6) Why do I need to do a dump and restore to upgrade PostgreSQL - releases? + 3.6 What is the upgrade process for PostgreSQL? 3.7) What computer hardware should I use? Operational Questions @@ -153,8 +152,8 @@ time of release are listed in the installation instructions. PostgreSQL also runs natively on Microsoft Windows NT-based operating - systems like Win2000, WinXP, and Win2003. A prepackaged installer is - available at http://pgfoundry.org/projects/pginstaller. MSDOS-based + systems like Win2000 SP4, WinXP, and Win2003. A prepackaged installer + is available at http://pgfoundry.org/projects/pginstaller. MSDOS-based versions of Windows (Win95, Win98, WinMe) can run PostgreSQL using Cygwin. @@ -168,7 +167,7 @@ Via web browser, use http://www.postgresql.org/ftp/, and via ftp, use ftp://ftp.PostgreSQL.org/pub/. - 1.6) What is the latest release? + 1.6) What is the most recent release? The latest release of PostgreSQL is version 8.1.5. @@ -189,7 +188,7 @@ (#postgresqlfr). There is also a PostgreSQL channel on EFNet. A list of commercial support companies is available at - http://techdocs.postgresql.org/companies.php. + http://www.postgresql.org/support/professional_support. 1.8) How do I submit a bug report? @@ -350,8 +349,9 @@ 2.3) Does PostgreSQL have a graphical user interface? - Yes, see http://techdocs.postgresql.org/guides/GUITools for a detailed - list. + There are a large number of GUI Tools that are available for + PostgreSQL from both commercial and open source developers. A detailed + list can be found in the PostgreSQL Community Documentation _________________________________________________________________ Administrative Questions @@ -397,8 +397,9 @@ Hardware Selection The effect of hardware on performance is detailed in - http://candle.pha.pa.us/main/writings/pgsql/hw_performance/inde - x.html and http://www.powerpostgresql.com/PerfList/. + http://www.powerpostgresql.com/PerfList/ and + http://momjian.us/main/writings/pgsql/hw_performance/index.html + . 3.4) What debugging features are available? @@ -413,16 +414,22 @@ processes it can start by changing the max_connections value in postgresql.conf and restarting the postmaster. - 3.6) Why do I need to do a dump and restore to upgrade between major - PostgreSQL releases? + 3.6) What is the upgrade process for PostgreSQL? - The PostgreSQL team makes only small changes between minor releases, - so upgrading from 7.4.0 to 7.4.1 does not require a dump and restore. - However, major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the - internal format of system tables and data files. These changes are - often complex, so we don't maintain backward compatibility for data - files. A dump outputs data in a generic format that can then be loaded - in using the new internal format. + The PostgreSQL team makes only bug fixes in minor releases, so, for + example, upgrading from 7.4.8 to 7.4.9 does not require a dump and + restore; merely stop the database server, install the updated + binaries, and restart the server. + + All users should upgrade to the most recent minor release as soon as + it is available. While every upgrade has some risk, PostgreSQL minor + releases are designed to fix only common bugs with the least risk. The + community considers not upgrading more risky that upgrading. + + Major releases (e.g. from 7.3 to 7.4) often change the internal format + of system tables and data files. These changes are often complex, so + we don't maintain backward compatibility for data files. A dump/reload + of the database is required for major upgrades. 3.7) What computer hardware should I use? @@ -513,7 +520,7 @@ One limitation is that indexes can not be created on columns longer than about 2,000 characters. Fortunately, such indexes are rarely - needed. Uniqueness is best guaranteed by a funtion index of an MD5 + needed. Uniqueness is best guaranteed by a function index of an MD5 hash of the long column, and full text indexing allows for searching of words within the column. @@ -614,8 +621,8 @@ FROM tab WHERE lower(col) = 'abc'; - This will not use an standard index. However, if you create a - expresssion index, it will be used: + This will not use an standard index. However, if you create an + expression index, it will be used: CREATE INDEX tabindex ON tab (lower(col)); If the above index is created as UNIQUE, though the column can store @@ -720,7 +727,7 @@ 4.12) What is an OID? What is a CTID? Every row that is created in PostgreSQL gets a unique OID unless - created WITHOUT OIDS. OIDs are autotomatically assigned unique 4-byte + created WITHOUT OIDS. OIDs are automatically assigned unique 4-byte integers that are unique across the entire installation. However, they overflow at 4 billion, and then the OIDs start being duplicated. PostgreSQL uses OIDs to link its internal system tables together. |