Thread

  1. autovacuum is ON in the system but commented out in postgresql.conf

    Subramanian,Ramachandran <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> — 2026-05-13T10:15:34Z

    Hello,
    
    I am running PG V16.13.
    
    I see the autovacuum is on , but when I look at postgresql.conf all the relevant lines are commented out.  How should I understand this ?
    
    LG
    
    Ram
    
    
    
    
    postgres=# show autovacuum
    postgres-# ;
    autovacuum
    ------------
    on
    (1 row)
    
    
    
    #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # AUTOVACUUM
    #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    #autovacuum = on                        # Enable autovacuum subprocess?  'on'
                                            # requires track_counts to also be on.
    #autovacuum_max_workers = 3             # max number of autovacuum subprocesses
                                            # (change requires restart)
    #autovacuum_naptime = 1min              # time between autovacuum runs
    #autovacuum_vacuum_threshold = 50       # min number of row updates before
                                            # vacuum
    #autovacuum_vacuum_insert_threshold = 1000      # min number of row inserts
                                            # before vacuum; -1 disables insert
                                            # vacuums
    #autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 50      # min number of row updates before
                                            # analyze
    #autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor = 0.2   # fraction of table size before vacuum
    #autovacuum_vacuum_insert_scale_factor = 0.2    # fraction of inserts over table
                                            # size before insert vacuum
    #autovacuum_analyze_scale_factor = 0.1  # fraction of table size before analyze
    #autovacuum_freeze_max_age = 200000000  # maximum XID age before forced vacuum
                                            # (change requires restart)
    #autovacuum_multixact_freeze_max_age = 400000000        # maximum multixact age
                                            # before forced vacuum
                                            # (change requires restart)
    #autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay = 2ms     # default vacuum cost delay for
                                            # autovacuum, in milliseconds;
                                            # -1 means use vacuum_cost_delay
    #autovacuum_vacuum_cost_limit = -1      # default vacuum cost limit for
                                            # autovacuum, -1 means use
                                            # vacuum_cost_limit
    
    
    Freundliche Grüße
    
    i. A. Ramachandran Subramanian
    Zentralbereich Informationstechnologie
    
    Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G.
    
    
    Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.
    
    
    
    
    
    Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G., Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
    Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape, Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
    Sitz Oberursel (Taunus) · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Bad Homburg v. d. H. HRB 1583 · USt.-IdNr. DE 114106814
    
    
    
    
    
     
    Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.,  Löffelstraße 34-38, 70597 Stuttgart
    Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape,
    Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
    Sitz Stuttgart · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Stuttgart HRB 2686 · USt.-IdNr. DE 147802285
    Beiträge zu privaten Kranken- und Pflegekrankenversicherungen unterliegen nicht der Versicherungsteuer (§ 4 Nr. 5 VersStG) · Versicherungsleistungen sowie Umsätze aus Versicherungsvertreter-/Maklertätigkeiten sind umsatzsteuerfrei
     
    
    
    
     
    Die Pflichtangaben der ALH Gruppe gemäß § 35a GmbHG bzw. § 80 AktG finden Sie hier: https://www.alte-leipziger.de/impressum 
    
    
    
    
    
    ______________________
    
    ALH Gruppe
    Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
    Tel.: +49 (6171) 66-4882
    Fax: +49 (6171) 66-800-4882
    E-Mail: ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de
    www.alte-leipziger.de
    www.hallesche.de
    
    
  2. Re: autovacuum is ON in the system but commented out in postgresql.conf

    Laurenz Albe <laurenz.albe@cybertec.at> — 2026-05-13T12:17:00Z

    On Wed, 2026-05-13 at 10:15 +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
    > I see the autovacuum is on , but when I look at postgresql.conf all the
    > relevant lines are commented out.  How should I understand this ?
    
    By checking where your current setting originates:
    
      SELECT source, sourcefile, sourceline, pending_restart
      FROM pg_settings
      WHERE name = 'autovacuum';
    
    Yours,
    Laurenz Albe
    
    
    
    
  3. Re: autovacuum is ON in the system but commented out in postgresql.conf

    David G. Johnston <david.g.johnston@gmail.com> — 2026-05-13T12:30:36Z

    On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Subramanian,Ramachandran <
    ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> wrote:
    >
    > I see the autovacuum is on , but when I look at postgresql.conf all the
    > relevant lines are commented out.  How should I understand this ?
    >
    > Every setting is comment yet every setting must have a value - I’d assume
    that means I’m seeing the default setting.  The comments at the top of the
    file should confirm this assumption.  As should the documentation.
    
    David J.
    
  4. AW: autovacuum is ON in the system but commented out in postgresql.conf

    Subramanian,Ramachandran <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> — 2026-05-13T13:21:30Z

    So autovacuum is by default ON and that is why even though it is commented out in the postgresql.conf it is still active.
    
    
    Is my understanding of your answer correct ?
    
    
    LG
    
    Ram
    
    
    
    BTW
    
    
    
    postgres@lx90177:/var/lib/pgsql/work/scripts$ psql -f a
    source  | sourcefile | sourceline | pending_restart
    ---------+------------+------------+-----------------
    default |            |            | f
    (1 row)
    
    postgres@lx90177:/var/lib/pgsql/work/scripts$ psql -c " show autovacuum"
    autovacuum
    ------------
    on
    (1 row)
    
    postgres@lx90177:/var/lib/pgsql/work/scripts$ cat ~/AUFGABEN-VERWAL/data/postgresql.conf | grep autovacuum
    #autovacuum_work_mem = -1               # min 1MB, or -1 to use maintenance_work_mem
    #log_autovacuum_min_duration = 10min    # log autovacuum activity;
    #autovacuum = on                        # Enable autovacuum subprocess?  'on'
    #autovacuum_max_workers = 3             # max number of autovacuum subprocesses
    #autovacuum_naptime = 1min              # time between autovacuum runs
    #autovacuum_vacuum_threshold = 50       # min number of row updates before
    #autovacuum_vacuum_insert_threshold = 1000      # min number of row inserts
    #autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 50      # min number of row updates before
    #autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor = 0.2   # fraction of table size before vacuum
    #autovacuum_vacuum_insert_scale_factor = 0.2    # fraction of inserts over table
    #autovacuum_analyze_scale_factor = 0.1  # fraction of table size before analyze
    #autovacuum_freeze_max_age = 200000000  # maximum XID age before forced vacuum
    #autovacuum_multixact_freeze_max_age = 400000000        # maximum multixact age
    #autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay = 2ms     # default vacuum cost delay for
                                            # autovacuum, in milliseconds;
    #autovacuum_vacuum_cost_limit = -1      # default vacuum cost limit for
                                            # autovacuum, -1 means use
    postgres@lx90177:/var/lib/pgsql/work/scripts$
    
    
    Freundliche Grüße
    
    i. A. Ramachandran Subramanian
    Zentralbereich Informationstechnologie
    
    Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G.
    
    
    Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G., Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
    Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape, Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
    Sitz Oberursel (Taunus) · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Bad Homburg v. d. H. HRB 1583 · USt.-IdNr. DE 114106814
    
    
    
    
    
     
    Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.,  Löffelstraße 34-38, 70597 Stuttgart
    Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape,
    Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
    Sitz Stuttgart · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Stuttgart HRB 2686 · USt.-IdNr. DE 147802285
    Beiträge zu privaten Kranken- und Pflegekrankenversicherungen unterliegen nicht der Versicherungsteuer (§ 4 Nr. 5 VersStG) · Versicherungsleistungen sowie Umsätze aus Versicherungsvertreter-/Maklertätigkeiten sind umsatzsteuerfrei
     
    
    
    
     
    Die Pflichtangaben der ALH Gruppe gemäß § 35a GmbHG bzw. § 80 AktG finden Sie hier: https://www.alte-leipziger.de/impressum 
    
    
    
    
    
    ______________________
    
    ALH Gruppe
    Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
    Tel.: +49 (6171) 66-4882
    Fax: +49 (6171) 66-800-4882
    E-Mail: ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de
    www.alte-leipziger.de
    www.hallesche.de
    
    
    
    
    Von: David G. Johnston <david.g.johnston@gmail.com>
    Gesendet: Mittwoch, 13. Mai 2026 14:31
    An: Subramanian,Ramachandran IT-md-db <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de>
    Cc: pgsql-novice@lists.postgresql.org
    Betreff: Re: autovacuum is ON in the system but commented out in postgresql.conf
    
    On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Subramanian,Ramachandran <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de<mailto:ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de>> wrote:
    I see the autovacuum is on , but when I look at postgresql.conf all the relevant lines are commented out.  How should I understand this ?
    Every setting is comment yet every setting must have a value - I’d assume that means I’m seeing the default setting.  The comments at the top of the file should confirm this assumption.  As should the documentation.
    
    David J.
    
    
  5. Re: AW: autovacuum is ON in the system but commented out in postgresql.conf

    Laurenz Albe <laurenz.albe@cybertec.at> — 2026-05-13T13:35:27Z

    On Wed, 2026-05-13 at 13:21 +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
    > So autovacuum is by default ON and that is why even though it is commented out in the postgresql.conf it is still active.
    >  
    > Is my understanding of your answer correct ?
    
    Yes.  A comment is just a comment and does not influence the actual parameter value.
    
    Parameters in postgresql.conf are typically commented out and set to the
    default value for documentation purposes.
    
    Yours,
    Laurenz Albe