As for the question in the title, no, if the server starts, shared buffers should not be the reason for a subsequent crash. In debian, it is common that the maximum allowed shared memory setting on your kernel will prevent a server from even starting, but I guess that's not your problem (because it did start). -- Sent via pgsql-performance mailing list (pgsql-performance@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-performance