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Message-ID: <5874a355-51fb-4fa3-acf4-df81a6d5b5f0@aklaver.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:19:00 -0700
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Subject: Re: Need help to make space on my database
To: Cocam' server <cocamserver@gmail.com>, pgsql-general@lists.postgresql.org
References: <CAJyHkohEM4cG==cqWwLYTLzaMV-XWUVF0yb9AYfZSwVu_fO=vg@mail.gmail.com>
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From: Adrian Klaver <adrian.klaver@aklaver.com>
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On 4/29/24 06:45, Cocam' server wrote:
> Hello.
> 
> I need help to make space on my database. I have tables that are several 
> GB in size. I used to use the VACUUM FULL VERBOSE command; but now, this 
> command is too greedy in free space to be used and I'm looking for a way 
> to make free space (given back to the OS)
> 
> Thanks in advance to everyone who responds

Per

https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-vacuum.html

"VACUUM reclaims storage occupied by dead tuples. In normal PostgreSQL 
operation, tuples that are deleted or obsoleted by an update are not 
physically removed from their table; they remain present until a VACUUM 
is done. Therefore it's necessary to do VACUUM periodically, especially 
on frequently-updated tables.

<...>

Plain VACUUM (without FULL) simply reclaims space and makes it available 
for re-use. This form of the command can operate in parallel with normal 
reading and writing of the table, as an exclusive lock is not obtained. 
However, extra space is not returned to the operating system (in most 
cases); it's just kept available for re-use within the same table.
"

So a regular VACUUM should work if all you want to do is give the 
database the ability to recycle the vacuumed tuple space.

-- 
Adrian Klaver
adrian.klaver@aklaver.com