Yep, there's your problem - mysql man pages do not contain up to date information - especially about postgresql.

    Outstanding... that had me pretty worried.

    Ok, one more newbie question, I see with possible redhat/linux "ext2/ext3" the file size is in the terrabytes, but how can I find out if our server is using ext2 or ext3?

    I really appreciate the help guys, this will be a huge weight off my shoulders if this isn't a concern. 😉

      wait I think I found it, command is df -T

      says we're running ext2 --- does this mean I can go above the 2GB limit?

        it depends on the kernel but ext2 can support upto 8Tb I think

          Originally posted by nnichols
          it depends on the kernel but ext2 can support upto 8Tb I think

          Even on redhat's site and newsgroup I'm having trouble finding a clear answer. As long as I can confirm it's in the terrabyte range, I'll be fine.

            linux 2.4.x kernel allows filesizes of "about" 4 Tb

              Originally posted by nnichols
              linux 2.4.x kernel allows filesizes of "about" 4 Tb

              Ugh, it appears it's 2.2.19-6.2.1

              at least that's what 'uname -a' showed me

                depending on what flavour of linux you are running there are rpms you can download to patch the 2.2 kernel. You'll have to try a support site for your specific flavour.

                Good luck

                  It depends on your OS, but generally they all can support more than you want to store. In practice, of course, you'll hit limits lower than the theoretical max. For example, MySQL stores each table in a single OS-based file. Some versions of linux (the older 2.2 kernels) could not create files larger than 2GB, so your tables were limited to 2GB on those OS. The limit has since been removed in 2.4 > kernels.

                    Yeah we're still running RH 7.2 (with 2.2 kernel) so we probably need to upgrade.

                      Just to clarify:

                      Postgresql splits ALL it's file at about 2 gig, so that a table might appear like this in the base/oid directory it lives in:

                      1023234
                      1023234.1
                      1023234.2

                      Where each one of those files would be ~2 gigs each.

                      Postgresql can AND DOES handle terabytes. Look through the performance mailing list for folks doing just that.

                      I'd suggest building a test box with both mysql and postgresql on it and seeing how they handle some arbitrary test data set you create for it.

                        Originally posted by Sxooter
                        Just to clarify:

                        Postgresql splits ALL it's file at about 2 gig

                        I'd suggest building a test box with both mysql and postgresql on it and seeing how they handle some arbitrary test data set you create for it.

                        Very cool. Yeah, I plan on doing that.

                          How are you running 2.2 kernel on RedHat 7.2? I think RedHat started shipping with the 2.4 kernel in 7.1.

                            Originally posted by jerdo
                            How are you running 2.2 kernel on RedHat 7.2? I think RedHat started shipping with the 2.4 kernel in 7.1.

                            That's what uname returned.... it's got me baffled as well 😕

                              Write a Reply...