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From: Jay Manni <JManni@FireEye.com>
To: "pgsql-performance@postgresql.org" <pgsql-performance@postgresql.org>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:02:50 -0800
Subject: High Frequency Inserts to Postgres Database vs Writing to a File
Thread-Topic: High Frequency Inserts to Postgres Database vs Writing to a File
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Hi:

I have an application wherein a process needs to read data from a stream an=
d store the records for further analysis and reporting. The data in the str=
eam is in the form of variable length records with clearly defined fields -=
 so it can be stored in a database or in a file. The only caveat is that th=
e rate of records coming in the stream could be several 1000 records a seco=
nd.

The design choice I am faced with currently is whether to use a postgres da=
tabase or a flat file for this purpose. My application already maintains a =
postgres (8.3.4) database for other reasons - so it seemed like the straigh=
tforward thing to do. However I am concerned about the performance overhead=
 of writing several 1000 records a second to the database. The same databas=
e is being used simultaneously for other activities as well and I do not wa=
nt those to be adversely affected by this operation (especially the query t=
imes). The advantage of running complex queries to mine the data in various=
 different ways is very appealing but the performance concerns are making m=
e wonder if just using a flat file to store the data would be a better appr=
oach.

Anybody have any experience in high frequency writes to a postgres database=
?

- Jay

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'>Hi:<o:p></o:p></s=
pan></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>=
</span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'>I have an applica=
tion
wherein a process needs to read data from a stream and store the records fo=
r
further analysis and reporting. The data in the stream is in the form of
variable length records with clearly defined fields &#8211; so it can be st=
ored
in a database or in a file. The only caveat is that the rate of records com=
ing
in the stream could be several 1000 records a second. <o:p></o:p></span></p=
>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>=
</span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'>The design choice=
 I am
faced with currently is whether to use a postgres database or a flat file f=
or this
purpose. My application already maintains a postgres (8.3.4) database for o=
ther
reasons &#8211; so it seemed like the straightforward thing to do. However =
I am
concerned about the performance overhead of writing several 1000 records a
second to the database. The same database is being used simultaneously for
other activities as well and I do not want those to be adversely affected b=
y
this operation (especially the query times). The advantage of running compl=
ex
queries to mine the data in various different ways is very appealing but th=
e
performance concerns are making me wonder if just using a flat file to stor=
e
the data would be a better approach. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>=
</span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'>Anybody have any
experience in high frequency writes to a postgres database?<o:p></o:p></spa=
n></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>=
</span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-family:Consolas'>- Jay<o:p></o:p><=
/span></p>

</div>

</body>

</html>

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