Hi list, I've been running this simple delete since yesterday afternoon : > db=# explain delete from message where datetime < '2009-03-03'; > Seq Scan on message (cost=0.00..34131.95 rows=133158 width=6) > Filter: (datetime < '2009-03-03 00:00:00'::timestamp without time zone) There is no index on that column, so a seqscan is fine. But it really shouldn't take > 15 hours to delete : > db=# select count(*) from message where datetime < '2009-03-03'; > 184368 > Time: 751.721 ms > > db=# select count(*) from message; > 1079463 > Time: 593.899 ms > > db=# select pg_size_pretty(pg_relation_size('message')); > 161 MB > Time: 96.062 ms > > db=# \o /dev/null > db=# select * from message where datetime < '2009-03-03'; > Time: 4975.123 ms Most of the time, there is no other connection to that database. This is on an oldish laptop. atop reports 100% cpu and about 24KB/s of writes for postgres. Machine is mostly idle (although I did run a multi-hours compile during the night). Nothing looks wrong in postgres logs. PostgreSQL 8.3.7 on i686-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by GCC i686-pc-linux-gnu-gcc (Gentoo 4.3.2-r3 p1.6, pie-10.1.5) 4.3.2 postgresql.conf : > max_connections = 100 > shared_buffers = 24MB > max_fsm_pages = 153600 > log_destination = 'stderr' > logging_collector = on > log_directory = '/var/log/postgres/' > log_filename = '%Y-%m-%d_%H%M%S.log' > log_rotation_size = 100MB > log_min_duration_statement = 30000 > log_line_prefix = '%t %d %p ' > datestyle = 'iso, mdy' > lc_messages = 'C' > lc_monetary = 'C' > lc_numeric = 'C' > lc_time = 'C' > default_text_search_config = 'pg_catalog.english' Not sure what to look at to debug this further (I could work around the problem with pg_dump + grep, but that's beside the point). Any idea ? Thanks. -- Vincent de Phily Mobile Devices +33 (0) 666 301 306 +33 (0) 142 119 325 Warning This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the use of its intended recipient and may contain information that is confidential, subject to copyright or constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or distribution of this message, or files associated with this message, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author vincent.dephily@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Although the company has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments. -- Sent via pgsql-performance mailing list (pgsql-performance@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-performance