pg_test_fsync output and commit_delay

Started by Peter Geogheganover 13 years ago2 messageshackers
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I propose that we try and develop better commit_delay advice, to make
it easier to set the parameter in a way that actually helps
performance. I have been researching a way to make commit_delay
adaptive, though have yet to develop any further insight that is worth
sharing. This may change.

The attached simple patch alters the output produced by pg_test_fsync,
so that we also see the average sync time per op. The pg_test_fsync
docs have had minor alterations too. Hopefully, another doc patch will
follow that builds upon this, and actually firmly recommends taking a
particular course of action when setting commit_delay - my previous
observations about what helped throughput, though supported by Greg
Smith, have not been scrutinised enough just yet, I feel. For now, the
equivocated wording of my doc alterations (that raw wal_sync_method
file sync time might *somehow* be useful here) seems appropriate.

--
Peter Geoghegan http://www.2ndQuadrant.com/
PostgreSQL Development, 24x7 Support, Training and Services

Attachments:

pg_test_fsync.v1.2012_09_08.patchapplication/octet-stream; name=pg_test_fsync.v1.2012_09_08.patchDownload+19-18
#2Josh Berkus
josh@agliodbs.com
In reply to: Peter Geoghegan (#1)
Re: pg_test_fsync output and commit_delay

The attached simple patch alters the output produced by pg_test_fsync,
so that we also see the average sync time per op.

Good idea. A median would be even better, but harder to calculate, I
imagine. You might consider providing a maximum, too.

The pg_test_fsync
docs have had minor alterations too. Hopefully, another doc patch will
follow that builds upon this, and actually firmly recommends taking a
particular course of action when setting commit_delay - my previous
observations about what helped throughput, though supported by Greg
Smith, have not been scrutinised enough just yet, I feel. For now, the
equivocated wording of my doc alterations (that raw wal_sync_method
file sync time might *somehow* be useful here) seems appropriate.

I'll see what I can do.

--
Josh Berkus
PostgreSQL Experts Inc.
http://pgexperts.com