Checkpoints

checkpoint_segments

Parameter description: Specifies the minimum number of WAL segment files in the period specified by checkpoint_timeout. The size of each log file is 16 MB.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 1 to 2147483646

Increasing the value of this parameter speeds up the import of a large amount of data. Set this parameter based on checkpoint_timeout and shared_buffers. This parameter affects the number of WAL segment files that can be reused. Generally, the maximum number of reused files in the pg_xlog folder is twice the number of checkpoint_segments. The reused files are not deleted and are renamed to the WAL segment files which will be later used.

Default value: 1024

checkpoint_timeout

Parameter description: Specifies the maximum time between automatic WAL checkpoints.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 30 to 3600. The unit is second.

If the value of checkpoint_segments is increased, you need to increase the value of this parameter. The increase of these two parameters further requires the increase of shared_buffers. Consider all these parameters during setting.

Default value: 15min

checkpoint_completion_target

Parameter description: Specifies the target of checkpoint completion.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: a double-precision floating point number ranging from 0.0 to 1.0

Default value: 0.5

0.5 indicates that each checkpoint should be complete within 50% of the interval between checkpoints.

checkpoint_warning

Parameter description: Specifies a time in seconds. If the checkpoint interval is close to this time due to filling of checkpoint segment files, a message is sent to the server log to suggest an increase in the value of checkpoint_segments.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 0 to 2147483647. The unit is s. 0 indicates that the warning is disabled.

Default value: 5min

Recommended value: 5min

checkpoint_wait_timeout

Parameter description: Sets the longest time that the checkpoint waits for the checkpointer thread to start.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 2 to 3600. The unit is s.

Default value: 1min

enable_incremental_checkpoint

Parameter description: Specifies whether to enable incremental checkpoint.

This parameter is a POSTMASTER parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: Boolean

Default value: on

enable_double_write

Parameter description: Specifies whether to enable the doublewrite buffer. When the incremental checkpoint is enabled, the doublewrite buffer instead of full_page_writes is used to prevent partial page writes.

This parameter is a POSTMASTER parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: Boolean

Default value: on

incremental_checkpoint_timeout

Parameter description: Specifies the maximum interval between automatic WAL checkpoints when the incremental checkpoint is enabled.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 1 to 3600. The unit is second.

Default value: 1min

enable_xlog_prune

Parameter description: Specifies whether the primary node reclaims logs if the size of Xlogs exceeds the value of max_size_for_xlog_prune when any standby node is disconnected.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: Boolean

• If this parameter is set to on, the primary node reclaims logs when any standby node is disconnected.
• If this parameter is set to off, the primary node does not reclaim logs when any standby node is disconnected.

Default value: on

max_size_for_xlog_prune

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 0 to 2147483647. The unit is KB.

Default value: 256 GB

max_redo_log_size

Parameter description: On standby DNs, this specifies the maximum size of logs between the latest checkpoint and the current log playback location. On the primary DN, this specifies the maximum size of logs between the recovery point and the latest log location. You are advised not to set this parameter to a large value if the RTO is concerned.

This parameter is a SIGHUP parameter. Set it based on instructions provided in Table 1.

Value range: an integer ranging from 163840 to 2147483647. The unit is KB.

Default value: 1048576. The unit is KB.