"Alexander B." <burbello3000@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes: > some developers were using the database, and suddenly no one could connect. Sounds like your postmaster process died. > Using PostgreSQL 8.1.4 on x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by GCC cc (GCC) > 3.3.5 (Debian 1:3.3.5-13) On Linux the most common reason for this has been that the kernel OOM killer decides to pick on the postmaster. Try to disable memory overcommit. It's rumored that having too little swap space may result in the OOM killer firing even when overcommit is off, too. regards, tom lane