I have a PostgreSQL 9.0/9.2 which from time to time hits some memory issues. I know the best approach is to monitor the DB performance and activity but in the log files I see error messages similar to: TopMemoryContext: 221952 total in 17 blocks; 7440 free (41 chunks); 214512 used TopTransactionContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 6384 free (0 chunks); 1808 used CurTransactionContext: 0 total in 0 blocks; 0 free (0 chunks); 0 used Type information cache: 24240 total in 2 blocks; 3744 free (0 chunks); 20496 used RI compare cache: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 15984 free (5 chunks); 8592 used RI query cache: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 11888 free (5 chunks); 12688 used TableSpace cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3216 free (0 chunks); 4976 used Operator lookup cache: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 11888 free (5 chunks); 12688 used MessageContext: 65536 total in 4 blocks; 7200 free (8 chunks); 58336 used Operator class cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used smgr relation table: 57344 total in 3 blocks; 34320 free (10 chunks); 23024 used TransactionAbortContext: 32768 total in 1 blocks; 32736 free (0 chunks); 32 used Portal hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used PortalMemory: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (1 chunks); 32 used Relcache by OID: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 11792 free (3 chunks); 12784 used CacheMemoryContext: 1359224 total in 23 blocks; 271648 free (1 chunks); 1087576 used . . . pg_amproc_fam_proc_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1224 free (2 chunks); 1848 used pg_foreign_server_name_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1704 free (4 chunks); 1368 used pg_attribute_relid_attnam_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (2 chunks); 1504 used pg_conversion_oid_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1704 free (4 chunks); 1368 used pg_user_mapping_user_server_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (2 chunks); 1504 used pg_conversion_name_nsp_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (2 chunks); 1504 used pg_authid_oid_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1656 free (3 chunks); 1416 used pg_auth_members_member_role_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (2 chunks); 1504 used pg_tablespace_oid_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1656 free (3 chunks); 1416 used pg_database_datname_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1656 free (3 chunks); 1416 used pg_auth_members_role_member_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (2 chunks); 1504 used pg_database_oid_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1656 free (3 chunks); 1416 used pg_authid_rolname_index: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1656 free (3 chunks); 1416 used MdSmgr: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5440 free (0 chunks); 2752 used tokenize file cxt: 0 total in 0 blocks; 0 free (0 chunks); 0 used hba parser context: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 512 free (2 chunks); 2560 used LOCALLOCK hash: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 13920 free (4 chunks); 10656 used Timezones: 83472 total in 2 blocks; 3744 free (0 chunks); 79728 used ErrorContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (4 chunks); 32 used 1 tm:2013-05-18 11:21:58.274 UTC db:VCDB pid:29515 ERROR: out of memory 2 tm:2013-05-18 11:21:58.274 UTC db:VCDB pid:29515 DETAIL: Failed on request of size 40. I've searched around for some documentation/books/posts on that topic but I failed to find detailed info what's TopMemoryContext, TopTransactionContext, CurTransactionContext etc. and how those values can be translated. Can someone point to a book or documentation which might be helpful? Thanks! -- View this message in context: http://postgresql.1045698.n5.nabble.com/Understanding-postgresql-logs-tp5757000.html Sent from the PostgreSQL - general mailing list archive at Nabble.com. -- Sent via pgsql-general mailing list (pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-general