How PostgreSQL Interacts with Disk

on YouTube ↗45m

" summary

Explains why databases need disk storage and how PostgreSQL interacts with disks, covering disk vs. memory vs. CPU trade-offs and why administrators prioritize disk, memory, price, and CPU when buying database servers. Describes PostgreSQL-specific behaviors and differences compared to other database systems in its use of disk.

AI-written summary · about

" chapters (15)

1. 0:00Introduction
2. 1:14Why databases need disk
3. 2:17I/O problems
4. 5:53PostgreSQL and disk
5. 7:41Checkpoints: main issue
6. 10:30Monitoring checkpoints
7. 13:38RAID controller setup
8. 16:04Best disks for PostgreSQL
9. 17:47Filesystems impact
10. 19:56OS settings
11. 21:42Checkpoint tuning
12. 25:55Background writer
13. 27:44Autovacuum tuning
14. 31:40PostgreSQL in VM
15. 34:09Q&A

" related talks

• 42mPostgreSQL Distributed: Architectures & Best practicesMarco Slot · PostgreSQL Conference Europe 2023
• 41mLinux IO internals for PostgreSQL administrators in 2023Ilya Kosmodemiansky · PostgreSQL Conference Europe 2023
• 49mHow Databases Work - For Developers, Accidental DBA's and ManagersGurjeet Singh · PostgresOpen 2014
• 47mWhat If We Opened PostgreSQL's Hood?Benjamin Coenen · Devoxx France 2026
• 30mPostgreSQL and Linux Kernel interactionsKrishnakumar R · POSETTE: An Event for Postgres 2025
• 50mPostgreSQL Versus MySQL - Isn't a Database Just a DatabasePep Pla · Open Source Summit Europe 2023
• 51mHow Postgres is Different (read BETTER than) your databaseGurjeet Singh · PostgresOpen 2013
• 46mHow PostgreSQL Can Hurt You When You Least Expect ItMikhail Zhilin · Joker 2024