BUG #4513: VACUUM FULL fails with "out of memory" error

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference: 4513
Logged by: Alexey Bashtanov
Email address: bashtanov(at)imap(dot)cc
PostgreSQL version: 8.3.1
Operating system: Red Hat Linux 2.6.20-1.2320.fc5smp i686
Description: VACUUM FULL fails with "out of memory" error
Details:

Hello!

Such a thing happens: when I make an attempt to vacuum full a table it waits
some minutes and then throws an error:

ERROR: out of memory
DETAIL: Failed on request of size 288.

It doesn't matter I set maintenance_work_mem to 16MB, 200MB or 1GB.

This table is bad enough: it has a size of 154G but "explain select *" says
there are only 524597 rows (and that value seems to be near to true). It is
not wide: integer, integer, character varying(10), integer, character
varying(3), date, integer.

Here's the part of serverlog:
==========
TopMemoryContext: 49416 total in 6 blocks; 8776 free (46 chunks); 40640
used
TopTransactionContext: 2986336304 total in 367 blocks; 192312 free (1088
chunks); 2986143992 used
Type information cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1800 free (0 chunks); 6392
used
Operator class cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3848 free (0 chunks); 4344
used
Record information cache: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 1800 free (0 chunks);
6392 used
Operator lookup cache: 24576 total in 2 blocks; 14072 free (6 chunks);
10504 used
MessageContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 5664 free (0 chunks); 2528 used
smgr relation table: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 2808 free (0 chunks); 5384
used
TransactionAbortContext: 32768 total in 1 blocks; 32752 free (0 chunks);
16 used
Portal hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3912 free (0 chunks); 4280 used
PortalMemory: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8040 free (0 chunks); 152 used
PortalHeapMemory: 3072 total in 2 blocks; 2928 free (8 chunks); 144
used
Vacuum: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 7872 free (0 chunks); 320 used
Relcache by OID: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3376 free (0 chunks); 4816 used
CacheMemoryContext: 667472 total in 20 blocks; 108288 free (0 chunks);
559184 used
pg_index_indrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
pg_settings: 15360 total in 4 blocks; 6912 free (0 chunks); 8448 used
pg_ts_dict_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_aggregate_fnoid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
pg_language_name_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_statistic_relid_att_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
pg_ts_dict_dictname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
pg_namespace_nspname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
pg_opfamily_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_opclass_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_ts_parser_prsname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
pg_amop_fam_strat_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 88 free (0 chunks); 936
used
pg_opclass_am_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 152 free (0
chunks); 872 used
pg_trigger_tgrelid_tgname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
pg_cast_source_target_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
pg_auth_members_role_member_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
pg_attribute_relid_attnum_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
pg_ts_config_cfgname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
pg_authid_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_ts_config_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_conversion_default_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 128 free (0
chunks); 896 used
pg_language_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_enum_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_proc_proname_args_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 152 free (0
chunks); 872 used
pg_ts_parser_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks); 680
used
pg_database_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_conversion_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
pg_class_relname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0 chunks);
784 used
pg_attribute_relid_attnam_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
pg_class_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_amproc_fam_proc_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 88 free (0 chunks);
936 used
pg_operator_oprname_l_r_n_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 88 free (0
chunks); 936 used
pg_index_indexrelid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
pg_type_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_rewrite_rel_rulename_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0
chunks); 784 used
pg_authid_rolname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks);
720 used
pg_auth_members_member_role_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
pg_enum_typid_label_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0 chunks);
744 used
pg_constraint_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks);
680 used
pg_conversion_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks);
680 used
pg_ts_template_tmplname_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 280 free (0
chunks); 744 used
pg_ts_config_map_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 192 free (0 chunks); 832
used
pg_namespace_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_type_typname_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0 chunks);
784 used
pg_operator_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_amop_opr_fam_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 240 free (0 chunks); 784
used
pg_proc_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 304 free (0 chunks); 720
used
pg_opfamily_am_name_nsp_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 192 free (0
chunks); 832 used
pg_ts_template_oid_index: 1024 total in 1 blocks; 344 free (0 chunks);
680 used
MdSmgr: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 4384 free (0 chunks); 3808 used
LOCALLOCK hash: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 3912 free (0 chunks); 4280 used
Timezones: 48616 total in 2 blocks; 5968 free (0 chunks); 42648 used
ErrorContext: 8192 total in 1 blocks; 8176 free (3 chunks); 16 used
[2008-11-05 13:27:33.064 PST] ERROR: out of memory
==========

And here's my postgresql.conf
==========
# -----------------------------
# PostgreSQL configuration file
# -----------------------------
#
# This file consists of lines of the form:
#
# name = value
#
# (The "=" is optional.) Whitespace may be used. Comments are introduced
with
# "#" anywhere on a line. The complete list of parameter names and allowed
# values can be found in the PostgreSQL documentation.
#
# The commented-out settings shown in this file represent the default
values.
# Re-commenting a setting is NOT sufficient to revert it to the default
value;
# you need to reload the server.
#
# This file is read on server startup and when the server receives a SIGHUP
# signal. If you edit the file on a running system, you have to SIGHUP the
# server for the changes to take effect, or use "pg_ctl reload". Some
# parameters, which are marked below, require a server shutdown and restart
to
# take effect.
#
# Any parameter can also be given as a command-line option to the server,
e.g.,
# "postgres -c log_connections=on". Some paramters can be changed at run
time
# with the "SET" SQL command.
#
# Memory units: kB = kilobytes MB = megabytes GB = gigabytes
# Time units: ms = milliseconds s = seconds min = minutes h = hours d =
days

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# FILE LOCATIONS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# The default values of these variables are driven from the -D command-line
# option or PGDATA environment variable, represented here as ConfigDir.

#data_directory = 'ConfigDir' # use data in another directory
# (change requires restart)
#hba_file = 'ConfigDir/pg_hba.conf' # host-based authentication file
# (change requires restart)
#ident_file = 'ConfigDir/pg_ident.conf' # ident configuration file
# (change requires restart)

# If external_pid_file is not explicitly set, no extra PID file is written.
#external_pid_file = '(none)' # write an extra PID file
# (change requires restart)

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# CONNECTIONS AND AUTHENTICATION
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Connection Settings -

#listen_addresses = 'localhost' # what IP address(es) to listen on;
# comma-separated list of addresses;
# defaults to 'localhost', '*' = all
# (change requires restart)
#port = 5432 # (change requires restart)
max_connections = 100 # (change requires restart)
# Note: Increasing max_connections costs ~400 bytes of shared memory per
# connection slot, plus lock space (see max_locks_per_transaction). You
might
# also need to raise shared_buffers to support more connections.
#superuser_reserved_connections = 3 # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_directory = '' # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_group = '' # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_permissions = 0777 # begin with 0 to use octal notation
# (change requires restart)
#bonjour_name = '' # defaults to the computer name
# (change requires restart)

# - Security and Authentication -

#authentication_timeout = 1min # 1s-600s
#ssl = off # (change requires restart)
#ssl_ciphers = 'ALL:!ADH:!LOW:!EXP:!MD5:@STRENGTH' # allowed SSL ciphers
# (change requires restart)
#password_encryption = on
#db_user_namespace = off

# Kerberos and GSSAPI
#krb_server_keyfile = '' # (change requires restart)
#krb_srvname = 'postgres' # (change requires restart, Kerberos only)
#krb_server_hostname = '' # empty string matches any keytab entry
# (change requires restart, Kerberos only)
#krb_caseins_users = off # (change requires restart)
#krb_realm = '' # (change requires restart)

# - TCP Keepalives -
# see "man 7 tcp" for details

#tcp_keepalives_idle = 0 # TCP_KEEPIDLE, in seconds;
# 0 selects the system default
#tcp_keepalives_interval = 0 # TCP_KEEPINTVL, in seconds;
# 0 selects the system default
#tcp_keepalives_count = 0 # TCP_KEEPCNT;
# 0 selects the system default

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# RESOURCE USAGE (except WAL)
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Memory -

shared_buffers = 200MB # min 128kB or max_connections*16kB
# (change requires restart)
#temp_buffers = 8MB # min 800kB
#max_prepared_transactions = 5 # can be 0 or more
# (change requires restart)
# Note: Increasing max_prepared_transactions costs ~600 bytes of shared
memory
# per transaction slot, plus lock space (see max_locks_per_transaction).
work_mem = 10MB # min 64kB
#maintenance_work_mem = 16MB # min 1MB
#max_stack_depth = 2MB # min 100kB

# - Free Space Map -

max_fsm_pages = 153600 # min max_fsm_relations*16, 6 bytes each
# (change requires restart)
#max_fsm_relations = 1000 # min 100, ~70 bytes each
# (change requires restart)

# - Kernel Resource Usage -

#max_files_per_process = 1000 # min 25
# (change requires restart)
#shared_preload_libraries = '' # (change requires restart)

# - Cost-Based Vacuum Delay -

#vacuum_cost_delay = 0 # 0-1000 milliseconds
#vacuum_cost_page_hit = 1 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_miss = 10 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_page_dirty = 20 # 0-10000 credits
#vacuum_cost_limit = 200 # 1-10000 credits

# - Background Writer -

#bgwriter_delay = 200ms # 10-10000ms between rounds
#bgwriter_lru_maxpages = 100 # 0-1000 max buffers written/round
#bgwriter_lru_multiplier = 2.0 # 0-10.0 multipler on buffers scanned/round

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# WRITE AHEAD LOG
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Settings -

#fsync = on # turns forced synchronization on or off
#synchronous_commit = on # immediate fsync at commit
#wal_sync_method = fsync # the default is the first option
# supported by the operating system:
# open_datasync
# fdatasync
# fsync
# fsync_writethrough
# open_sync
#full_page_writes = on # recover from partial page writes
#wal_buffers = 64kB # min 32kB
# (change requires restart)
#wal_writer_delay = 200ms # 1-10000 milliseconds

#commit_delay = 0 # range 0-100000, in microseconds
#commit_siblings = 5 # range 1-1000

# - Checkpoints -

checkpoint_segments = 100 # in logfile segments, min 1, 16MB each
#checkpoint_timeout = 5min # range 30s-1h
#checkpoint_completion_target = 0.5 # checkpoint target duration, 0.0 - 1.0
#checkpoint_warning = 30s # 0 is off

# - Archiving -

#archive_mode = off # allows archiving to be done
# (change requires restart)
#archive_command = '' # command to use to archive a logfile segment
#archive_timeout = 0 # force a logfile segment switch after this
# time; 0 is off

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# QUERY TUNING
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Planner Method Configuration -

#enable_bitmapscan = on
#enable_hashagg = on
#enable_hashjoin = on
#enable_indexscan = on
#enable_mergejoin = on
#enable_nestloop = on
#enable_seqscan = on
#enable_sort = on
#enable_tidscan = on

# - Planner Cost Constants -

#seq_page_cost = 1.0 # measured on an arbitrary scale
random_page_cost = 4.0 # same scale as above
#cpu_tuple_cost = 0.01 # same scale as above
#cpu_index_tuple_cost = 0.005 # same scale as above
#cpu_operator_cost = 0.0025 # same scale as above
#effective_cache_size = 128MB

# - Genetic Query Optimizer -

#geqo = on
#geqo_threshold = 12
#geqo_effort = 5 # range 1-10
#geqo_pool_size = 0 # selects default based on effort
#geqo_generations = 0 # selects default based on effort
#geqo_selection_bias = 2.0 # range 1.5-2.0

# - Other Planner Options -

#default_statistics_target = 10 # range 1-1000
constraint_exclusion = on
#from_collapse_limit = 8
#join_collapse_limit = 8 # 1 disables collapsing of explicit
# JOIN clauses

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# ERROR REPORTING AND LOGGING
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Where to Log -

#log_destination = 'stderr' # Valid values are combinations of
# stderr, csvlog, syslog and eventlog,
# depending on platform. csvlog
# requires logging_collector to be on.

# This is used when logging to stderr:
#logging_collector = off # Enable capturing of stderr and csvlog
# into log files. Required to be on for
# csvlogs.
# (change requires restart)

# These are only used if logging_collector is on:
#log_directory = 'pg_log' # directory where log files are written,
# can be absolute or relative to PGDATA
#log_filename = 'postgresql-%Y-%m-%d_%H%M%S.log' # log file name pattern,
# can include strftime() escapes
#log_truncate_on_rotation = off # If on, an existing log file of the
# same name as the new log file will be
# truncated rather than appended to.
# But such truncation only occurs on
# time-driven rotation, not on restarts
# or size-driven rotation. Default is
# off, meaning append to existing files
# in all cases.
#log_rotation_age = 1d # Automatic rotation of logfiles will
# happen after that time. 0 to disable.
#log_rotation_size = 10MB # Automatic rotation of logfiles will
# happen after that much log output.
# 0 to disable.

# These are relevant when logging to syslog:
#syslog_facility = 'LOCAL0'
#syslog_ident = 'postgres'

# - When to Log -

client_min_messages = notice # values in order of decreasing detail:
# debug5
# debug4
# debug3
# debug2
# debug1
# log
# notice
# warning
# error

log_min_messages = panic # values in order of decreasing detail:
# debug5
# debug4
# debug3
# debug2
# debug1
# info
# notice
# warning
# error
# log
# fatal
# panic

log_error_verbosity = terse # terse, default, or verbose messages

log_min_error_statement = log # values in order of decreasing detail:
# debug5
# debug4
# debug3
# debug2
# debug1
# info
# notice
# warning
# error
# log
# fatal
# panic (effectively off)

#log_min_duration_statement = -1 # -1 is disabled, 0 logs all statements
# and their durations, > 0 logs only
# statements running at least this time.

#silent_mode = off # DO NOT USE without syslog or
# logging_collector
# (change requires restart)

# - What to Log -

#debug_print_parse = off
#debug_print_rewritten = off
#debug_print_plan = off
#debug_pretty_print = off
#log_checkpoints = off
log_connections = off
log_disconnections = off
#log_duration = off
#log_hostname = off
log_line_prefix = '[%m] ' # special values:
# %u = user name
# %d = database name
# %r = remote host and port
# %h = remote host
# %p = process ID
# %t = timestamp without milliseconds
# %m = timestamp with milliseconds
# %i = command tag
# %c = session ID
# %l = session line number
# %s = session start timestamp
# %v = virtual transaction ID
# %x = transaction ID (0 if none)
# %q = stop here in non-session
# processes
# %% = '%'
# e.g. '<%u%%%d> '
#log_lock_waits = off # log lock waits >= deadlock_timeout
#log_statement = 'none' # none, ddl, mod, all
#log_temp_files = -1 # log temporary files equal or larger
# than specified size;
# -1 disables, 0 logs all temp files
#log_timezone = unknown # actually, defaults to TZ environment
# setting

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# RUNTIME STATISTICS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Query/Index Statistics Collector -

#track_activities = on
#track_counts = on
#update_process_title = on

# - Statistics Monitoring -

#log_parser_stats = off
#log_planner_stats = off
#log_executor_stats = off
#log_statement_stats = off

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# AUTOVACUUM PARAMETERS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

autovacuum = on # Enable autovacuum subprocess? 'on'
# requires track_counts to also be on.
#log_autovacuum_min_duration = -1 # -1 disables, 0 logs all actions and
# their durations, > 0 logs only
# actions running at least that time.
#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
# vacuum
#autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 50 # min number of row updates before
# analyze
#autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor = 0.2 # fraction of table size before
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_vacuum_cost_delay = 20 # default vacuum cost delay for
# autovacuum, -1 means use
# vacuum_cost_delay
#autovacuum_vacuum_cost_limit = -1 # default vacuum cost limit for
# autovacuum, -1 means use
# vacuum_cost_limit

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# CLIENT CONNECTION DEFAULTS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Statement Behavior -

#search_path = '"$user",public' # schema names
#default_tablespace = '' # a tablespace name, '' uses the default
#temp_tablespaces = '' # a list of tablespace names, '' uses
# only default tablespace
#check_function_bodies = on
#default_transaction_isolation = 'read committed'
#default_transaction_read_only = off
#session_replication_role = 'origin'
#statement_timeout = 0 # 0 is disabled
#vacuum_freeze_min_age = 100000000
#xmlbinary = 'base64'
#xmloption = 'content'

# - Locale and Formatting -

datestyle = 'iso, mdy'
#timezone = unknown # actually, defaults to TZ environment
# setting
#timezone_abbreviations = 'Default' # Select the set of available time
zone
# abbreviations. Currently, there are
# Default
# Australia
# India
# You can create your own file in
# share/timezonesets/.
#extra_float_digits = 0 # min -15, max 2
client_encoding = sql_ascii # actually, defaults to database
# encoding

# These settings are initialized by initdb, but they can be changed.
lc_messages = 'en_US.UTF-8' # locale for system error message
# strings
lc_monetary = 'en_US.UTF-8' # locale for monetary formatting
lc_numeric = 'en_US.UTF-8' # locale for number formatting
lc_time = 'en_US.UTF-8' # locale for time formatting

# default configuration for text search
default_text_search_config = 'pg_catalog.english'

# - Other Defaults -

#explain_pretty_print = on
#dynamic_library_path = '$libdir'
#local_preload_libraries = ''

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# LOCK MANAGEMENT
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

#deadlock_timeout = 1s
#max_locks_per_transaction = 64 # min 10
# (change requires restart)
# Note: Each lock table slot uses ~270 bytes of shared memory, and there
are
# max_locks_per_transaction * (max_connections + max_prepared_transactions)
# lock table slots.

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# VERSION/PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

# - Previous PostgreSQL Versions -

#add_missing_from = off
#array_nulls = on
#backslash_quote = safe_encoding # on, off, or safe_encoding
#default_with_oids = off
escape_string_warning = off
#regex_flavor = advanced # advanced, extended, or basic
#sql_inheritance = on
#standard_conforming_strings = off
#synchronize_seqscans = on

# - Other Platforms and Clients -

#transform_null_equals = off

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
# CUSTOMIZED OPTIONS
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

#custom_variable_classes = '' # list of custom variable class names
==========