Thank you all for the replies. Overcommit is indeed disabled - the reason we disabled it is that this very same process caused the Linux oom-killer to kill processes. This was perhaps two months ago. The setting was changed to, and is currently set to: vm.overcommit_memory=2 ...All has been well until recently. I will research overcommit further. Tom, below is the information you requested. Thank you, Mark /* SCHEMA DEFINITIONS */ dev_stage=> \d sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution Table "secmaster.sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution" Column | Type | Modifiers ---------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- geo_distribution_id | integer | not null default nextval('sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_geo_distribution_id_seq'::regclass) issue_id | integer | not null pool_prefix | character varying(2) | not null pool_number | character varying(7) | not null distribution_type | character varying(20) | state | character varying(3) | as_of_date | date | not null loan_count | integer | loan_count_ratio | numeric(5,2) | percent_of_upb | numeric(5,2) | aggregate_upb | numeric(16,3) | not null cusip | character(9) | agency | character(3) | origination_year | character(4) | Indexes: "sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_pkey" PRIMARY KEY, btree (geo_distribution_id) "sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_id_state_upb" btree (issue_id, state, percent_of_upb) CLUSTER "sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_state_lcnt" btree (issue_id, state, loan_count) "sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_state_pct_idx" btree (state, percent_of_upb, loan_count) Foreign-key constraints: "sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_issue_id_fkey" FOREIGN KEY (issue_id) REFERENCES sm_mbs_pool_detail(issue_id) ON DELETE CASCADE dev_stage=> \d sm_mbs_loan_distribution Table "secmaster.sm_mbs_loan_distribution" Column | Type | Modifiers ----------------------+---------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- rec_type | character(1) | not null agency | character(3) | not null pool_number | character(7) | not null cusip | character(9) | not null issue_id | integer | not null eff_date | date | not null value | character(6) | not null display_sort_order | character(4) | not null rpb | numeric(20,2) | not null pct_rpb | numeric(5,2) | not null loans | integer | not null loan_distribution_id | integer | not null default nextval('sm_mbs_loan_distribution_loan_distribution_id_seq'::regclass) Indexes: "sm_mbs_loan_distribution_pkey" PRIMARY KEY, btree (loan_distribution_id) "sm_mbs_loan_distribution_idx" UNIQUE, btree (issue_id, rec_type, value) "sm_mbs_loan_distribution_idx1" btree (rec_type, value, pct_rpb) "sm_mbs_loan_distribution_rec_type_loans" btree (issue_id, rec_type, value, loans) "sm_mbs_loan_distribution_rec_type_pct_rpb" btree (issue_id, rec_type, value, pct_rpb) CLUSTER "sm_mbs_loan_distribution_rec_type_rpb" btree (issue_id, rec_type, value, rpb) /* MEMORY CONTEXT DUMP AND ERROR MESSAGE */ TopMemoryContext: 58800 total in 7 blocks; 6480 free (6 chunks); 52320 used Operator class cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1256 free (0 chunks); 1816 used SPI Plan: 7168 total in 3 blocks; 3448 free (0 chunks); 3720 used SPI Plan: 7168 total in 3 blocks; 3448 free (0 chunks); 3720 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (0 chunks); 1504 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1600 free (0 chunks); 1472 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1504 free (0 chunks); 1568 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1504 free (0 chunks); 1568 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1504 free (0 chunks); 1568 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (0 chunks); 1504 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1600 free (0 chunks); 1472 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1256 free (0 chunks); 1816 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 424 free (0 chunks); 2648 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1696 free (0 chunks); 1376 used PL/PgSQL function context: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 8464 free (7 chunks); 16112 used PLpgSQL function cache: 22064 total in 2 blocks; 3744 free (0 chunks); 18320 used CFuncHash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used TopTransactionContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5984 free (0 chunks); 2208 used CurTransactionContext: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 12400 free (1 chunks); 12176 used ExecutorState: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 4496 free (1 chunks); 20080 used ExprContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (0 chunks); 32 used SPI Exec: 528474160 total in 69 blocks; 309634880 free (9674592 chunks); 218839280 used ExecutorState: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7664 free (0 chunks); 528 used ExprContext: 0 total in 0 blocks; 0 free (0 chunks); 0 used SPI Proc: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 16728 free (16 chunks); 7848 used MessageContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5040 free (3 chunks); 3152 used smgr relation table: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 13904 free (4 chunks); 10672 used Portal hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used PortalMemory: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7888 free (0 chunks); 304 used PortalHeapMemory: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 744 free (0 chunks); 280 used ExecutorState: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5256 free (6 chunks); 2936 used ExprContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (8 chunks); 32 used Relcache by OID: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 14912 free (3 chunks); 9664 used CacheMemoryContext: 1040384 total in 7 blocks; 457176 free (16 chunks); 583208 used sm_mbs_geo_pool_distribution_id_state_upb: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_description_o_c_o_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_attrdef_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_shdepend_depender_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_shdepend_reference_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_depend_depender_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_depend_reference_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_index_indrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_attrdef_adrelid_adnum_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_type_typname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_type_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_trigger_tgrelid_tgname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_statistic_relid_att_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_auth_members_member_role_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_auth_members_role_member_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_rewrite_rel_rulename_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_proc_proname_args_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_proc_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_operator_oprname_l_r_n_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 16 free (0 chunks); 1008 used pg_operator_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_opclass_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_opclass_am_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_namespace_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_namespace_nspname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_language_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_language_name_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_inherits_relid_seqno_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_index_indexrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_authid_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_authid_rolname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_database_datname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_conversion_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_conversion_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_conversion_default_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 16 free (0 chunks); 1008 used pg_class_relname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_class_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_cast_source_target_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_attribute_relid_attnum_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_attribute_relid_attnam_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_amproc_opc_proc_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_amop_opr_opc_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_amop_opc_strat_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_aggregate_fnoid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used MdSmgr: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7104 free (1 chunks); 1088 used LockTable (locallock hash): 24576 total in 2 blocks; 15984 free (5 chunks); 8592 used Timezones: 52560 total in 2 blocks; 3744 free (0 chunks); 48816 used ErrorContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (3 chunks); 32 used TopMemoryContext: 58800 total in 7 blocks; 9120 free (27 chunks); 49680 used Operator class cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1256 free (0 chunks); 1816 used SPI Plan: 7168 total in 3 blocks; 3448 free (0 chunks); 3720 used SPI Plan: 7168 total in 3 blocks; 3448 free (0 chunks); 3720 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (0 chunks); 1504 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1600 free (0 chunks); 1472 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1504 free (0 chunks); 1568 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1504 free (0 chunks); 1568 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1504 free (0 chunks); 1568 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1568 free (0 chunks); 1504 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1712 free (0 chunks); 1360 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1600 free (0 chunks); 1472 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1256 free (0 chunks); 1816 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 424 free (0 chunks); 2648 used SPI Plan: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 1696 free (0 chunks); 1376 used PL/PgSQL function context: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 8464 free (7 chunks); 16112 used PLpgSQL function cache: 22064 total in 2 blocks; 3744 free (0 chunks); 18320 used CFuncHash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used TopTransactionContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 6288 free (5 chunks); 1904 used ExecutorState: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 4496 free (1 chunks); 20080 used ExprContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (0 chunks); 32 used SPI Exec: 528474160 total in 69 blocks; 309634880 free (9674592 chunks); 218839280 used ExecutorState: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7664 free (0 chunks); 528 used ExprContext: 0 total in 0 blocks; 0 free (0 chunks); 0 used SPI Proc: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 15728 free (9 chunks); 8848 used MessageContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5040 free (3 chunks); 3152 used smgr relation table: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 13904 free (4 chunks); 10672 used Portal hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1680 free (0 chunks); 6512 used PortalMemory: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7888 free (0 chunks); 304 used PortalHeapMemory: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 744 free (0 chunks); 280 used ExecutorState: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5256 free (6 chunks); 2936 used ExprContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (8 chunks); 32 used Relcache by OID: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 14912 free (3 chunks); 9664 used CacheMemoryContext: 1040384 total in 7 blocks; 463544 free (49 chunks); 576840 used pg_description_o_c_o_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_attrdef_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_shdepend_depender_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_shdepend_reference_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_depend_depender_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_depend_reference_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_index_indrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_attrdef_adrelid_adnum_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_type_typname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_type_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_trigger_tgrelid_tgname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_statistic_relid_att_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_auth_members_member_role_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_auth_members_role_member_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_rewrite_rel_rulename_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_proc_proname_args_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_proc_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_operator_oprname_l_r_n_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 16 free (0 chunks); 1008 used pg_operator_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_opclass_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_opclass_am_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_namespace_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_namespace_nspname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_language_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_language_name_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_inherits_relid_seqno_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_index_indexrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_authid_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_authid_rolname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_database_datname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_conversion_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_conversion_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_conversion_default_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 16 free (0 chunks); 1008 used pg_class_relname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_class_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used pg_cast_source_target_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_attribute_relid_attnum_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_attribute_relid_attnam_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_amproc_opc_proc_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_amop_opr_opc_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 216 free (0 chunks); 808 used pg_amop_opc_strat_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 208 free (0 chunks); 816 used pg_aggregate_fnoid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 312 free (0 chunks); 712 used MdSmgr: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7200 free (4 chunks); 992 used LockTable (locallock hash): 24576 total in 2 blocks; 15984 free (5 chunks); 8592 used Timezones: 52560 total in 2 blocks; 3744 free (0 chunks); 48816 used ErrorContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8160 free (0 chunks); 32 used <2006-12-13 14:41:46 EST>ERROR: out of memory <2006-12-13 14:41:46 EST>DETAIL: Failed on request of size 20. <2006-12-13 14:41:46 EST>CONTEXT: SQL statement "SELECT $1 [ $2 ]" PL/pgSQL function "cluster_load_tables" line 31 at raise