Introduction

PostgreSQL is very sophisticated and powerful database server to use with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. However, many people argue that one of the features it lacks is the memory storage engine of MySQL.

This storage engine is ideal for applications that process temporary data that is updated rarely but accessed many times. These applications use databases stored in memory to decrease the number of disc operations. An example of such an application is the web-based BitTorrent tracker.

In this tip, you will learn how to set up memory storage for PostgreSQL using standard features provided by the database server itself and the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system.

Creating memory filesystem

First we will need a place in memory where all database content will be stored. To create a filesystem in memory use the command:

mount -t ramfs none /mount/point

This will create a filesystem with the following features:

• All files are kept in RAM.
• Access is read-write.
• Does not use fixed amount of RAM.
• Filesystem grows and shrinks to accommodate the files it contains.
• When the filesystem is unmounted, all its contents are lost.

Setting up a tablespace

From PostgreSQL documentation:

Tablespaces in PostgreSQL allow database administrators to define locations in the file system where the files representing database objects can be stored. Once created, a tablespace can be referred to by name when creating database objects.The location must be an existing, empty directory that is owned by the PostgreSQL system user. All objects subsequently created within the tablespace will be stored in files underneath this directory. Creation of the tablespace itself must be done as a database superuser, but after that you can allow ordinary database users to make use of it. To do that, grant them the CREATE privilege on it.

First create the directory where tablespace will be stored. It must reside on your ramfs filesystem.

    	mkdir /mnt/ramfs/pgdata
    	chown postgres:postgres /mnt/ramfs/pgdata
    	chmod go-rwx /mnt/ramfs/pgdata
    	    

To create the tablespace and grant permissions on it:

    	CREATE TABLESPACE $TABLESPACE_NAME LOCATION '/mnt/ramfs/pgdata';
	GRANT CREATE ON TABLESPACE $TABLESPACE_NAME TO $ROLE_NAME;

In addition to setting up entries in internal PostgreSQL tables, a file named “PG_VERSION” will be created under the tablespace directory. Get familliar with it and all other possible files (if) created because we need to restore this structure later.

We are defining the tablespace into `template1′ database. Normally all other databases inherit from `template1′. This way we don’t need to redefine it every time and it can be used for all subsequently created objects in the database.

It is not good idea for an application to access the database as superuser. Create a new role to use with your application.

Warning: Depending on your configuration you may need to tune SELinux policy to allow user `postgres’ access to the tablespace directory.

Creating databases

To create a new database in the tablespace use the command:

       CREATE DATABASE $DATABASE_NAME WITH TABLESPACE = $TABLESPACE_NAME;

All other objects created within this database will be stored in the same tablespace. Tablespaces can be used when creating tables as well.

Dumping and restoring the database

We need to dump and restore the database structure every time the ramfs filesystem is unmounted. Applications using memory databases should be aware of data loss and responsible for its recreation.

To dump the database schema:

     pg_dump --create --schema-only --file=$FILENAME --host=$HOST -U postgres $DATABASE_NAME

To restore the database schema:

     psql --file $FILENAME -U $ROLE_NAME --dbname postgres --host $HOST

Automating the process

To make this setup work every time when the server is restarted, we need to edit `/etc/init.d/postgresql’. Make sure the items appear in the correct order.

When stopping the database server:

1. Dump database schema:

        pg_dump --create --schema-only --file=/root/memdb.sql --host=localhost -U postgres memdb
   

2. Stop postmaster (original init code)
3. Unmount ramfs:

        umount /mnt/ramfs
   

When starting the database server:

1. Mount ramfs:

   if [ ! -d /mnt/ramfs ]; then
       mkdir -p /mnt/ramfs
   fi
   mount -t ramfs none /mnt/ramfs
   	

2. Recreate PostgreSQL tablespace directory:

   	mkdir /mnt/ramfs/pgdata
   	echo $PGMAJORVERSION > /mnt/ramfs/pgdata/PG_VERSION
   	chown -R postgres:postgres /mnt/ramfs/pgdata
   	chmod -R go-rwx /mnt/ramfs/pgdata
   	

3. Start postmaster (original init code)
4. Drop the database because it exists in PostgreSQL system tables only.

        psql --quiet -U postgres --host localhost --command "DROP DATABASE memdb;" 2>/root/psql.log
   

5. Restore the database schema:

        psql --quiet --file /root/memdb.sql -U $ROLE_NAME -d postgres --host localhost 2>/root/psql.log
   

Summary

You have just learned how to set up memory storage for the PostgreSQL database server. In addition to all PostgreSQL features, when using memory databases, it does not have the limitations imposed by MySQL. For a complete setup you may tweak your init script as you wish.

原文链接: http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/12/12/tip-from-an-rhce-memory-storage-on-postgresql/