We are testing out Hyperic 4.5.1 in a quite small environment for now. Currently there are just 1-5 agents and there probably won't be any more than 10-15.

When I run ps ax there are 20(!) postgres processes running. For a small setup like this, that can't be necessary, can it? I'm a software developer and don't have much experience with setting up servers and such though, so don't really know.

Either way, what settings are appropriate for a small Hyperic setup like this?

Current, default and untouched configuration file, hqdb/data/postgresql.conf:

# -----------------------------
# PostgreSQL configuration file
# -----------------------------
#
# This file consists of lines of the form:
#
#   name = value
#
# (The '=' is optional.)  White space may be used.  Comments are introduced
# with '#' anywhere on a line.  The complete list of option names and
# allowed values can be found in the PostgreSQL documentation.  The
# commented-out settings shown in this file represent the default values.
#
# Please note that re-commenting a setting is NOT sufficient to revert it
# to the default value, unless you restart the server.
#
# Any option can also be given as a command line switch to the server,
# e.g., 'postgres -c log_connections=on'.  Some options can be changed at
# run-time with the 'SET' SQL command.
#
# This file is read on server startup and when the server receives a
# SIGHUP.  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
# settings, which are marked below, require a server shutdown and restart
# to take effect.
#
# 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
# switch 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 = 9432             # (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     # octal
                    # (change requires restart)
#bonjour_name = ''          # defaults to the computer name
                    # (change requires restart)

# - Security & Authentication -

#authentication_timeout = 1min      # 1s-600s
#ssl = off              # (change requires restart)
#password_encryption = on
#db_user_namespace = off

# Kerberos
#krb_server_keyfile = ''        # (change requires restart)
#krb_srvname = 'postgres'       # (change requires restart)
#krb_server_hostname = ''       # empty string matches any keytab entry
                    # (change requires restart)
#krb_caseins_users = off        # (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 = 64MB           # 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 = 2MB              # min 64kB
maintenance_work_mem = 32MB     # min 1MB
#max_stack_depth = 2MB          # min 100kB

# - Free Space Map -

max_fsm_pages = 204800              # 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        # 0-10000 credits

# - Background writer -

#bgwriter_delay = 200ms         # 10-10000ms between rounds
#bgwriter_lru_percent = 1.0     # 0-100% of LRU buffers scanned/round
#bgwriter_lru_maxpages = 5      # 0-1000 buffers max written/round
#bgwriter_all_percent = 0.333       # 0-100% of all buffers scanned/round
#bgwriter_all_maxpages = 5      # 0-1000 buffers max written/round


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

# - Settings -

fsync = on              # turns forced synchronization on or off
#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)
commit_delay = 100000           # range 0-100000, in microseconds
#commit_siblings = 5            # range 1-1000

# - Checkpoints -

checkpoint_segments = 10        # in logfile segments, min 1, 16MB each
#checkpoint_timeout = 5min      # range 30s-1h
#checkpoint_warning = 30s       # 0 is off

# - Archiving -

#archive_command = ''       # command to use to archive a logfile segment
#archive_timeout = 0        # force a logfile segment switch after this
                # many seconds; 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 = off
#from_collapse_limit = 8
#join_collapse_limit = 8        # 1 disables collapsing of explicit 
                    # JOINs


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

# - Where to Log -

log_destination = 'stderr'      # Valid values are combinations of 
                    # stderr, syslog and eventlog, 
                    # depending on platform.

# This is used when logging to stderr:
redirect_stderr = on            # Enable capturing of stderr into log 
                    # files
                    # (change requires restart)

# These are only used if redirect_stderr is on:
log_directory = '../../logs'        # Directory where log files are written
                    # Can be absolute or relative to PGDATA
log_filename = 'hqdb-%Y-%m-%d.log'      # Log file name pattern.
                    # Can include strftime() escapes
#log_truncate_on_rotation = off # If on, any 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 = notice      # Values, in order of decreasing detail:
                    #   debug5
                    #   debug4
                    #   debug3
                    #   debug2
                    #   debug1
                    #   info
                    #   notice
                    #   warning
                    #   error
                    #   log
                    #   fatal
                    #   panic

#log_error_verbosity = default      # terse, default, or verbose messages

#log_min_error_statement = error    # Values in order of increasing severity:
                    #   debug5
                    #   debug4
                    #   debug3
                    #   debug2
                    #   debug1
                    #   info
                    #   notice
                    #   warning
                    #   error
                    #   fatal
                    #   panic (effectively off)

log_min_duration_statement = 10000  # -1 is disabled, 0 logs all statements
                    # and their durations.

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

# - What to Log -

#debug_print_parse = off
#debug_print_rewritten = off
#debug_print_plan = off
#debug_pretty_print = off
#log_connections = off
#log_disconnections = off
#log_duration = off
#log_line_prefix = ''           # Special values:
                    #   %u = user name
                    #   %d = database name
                    #   %r = remote host and port
                    #   %h = remote host
                    #   %p = PID
                    #   %t = timestamp (no milliseconds)
                    #   %m = timestamp with milliseconds
                    #   %i = command tag
                    #   %c = session id
                    #   %l = session line number
                    #   %s = session start timestamp
                    #   %x = transaction id
                    #   %q = stop here in non-session 
                    #        processes
                    #   %% = '%'
                    # e.g. '<%u%%%d> '
#log_statement = 'none'         # none, ddl, mod, all
#log_hostname = off


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

# - Query/Index Statistics Collector -

#stats_command_string = on
#update_process_title = on

stats_start_collector = on      # needed for block or row stats
                    # (change requires restart)
stats_block_level = on
stats_row_level = on
stats_reset_on_server_start = off   # (change requires restart)


# - Statistics Monitoring -

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


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

#autovacuum = off           # enable autovacuum subprocess?
                    # 'on' requires stats_start_collector
                    # and stats_row_level to also be on
#autovacuum_naptime = 1min      # time between autovacuum runs
#autovacuum_vacuum_threshold = 500  # min # of tuple updates before
                    # vacuum
#autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 250 # min # of tuple updates before 
                    # analyze
#autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor = 0.2   # fraction of rel size before 
                    # vacuum
#autovacuum_analyze_scale_factor = 0.1  # fraction of rel size before 
                    # analyze
#autovacuum_freeze_max_age = 200000000  # maximum XID age before forced vacuum
                    # (change requires restart)
#autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay = -1  # 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
#check_function_bodies = on
#default_transaction_isolation = 'read committed'
#default_transaction_read_only = off
#statement_timeout = 0          # 0 is disabled
#vacuum_freeze_min_age = 100000000

# - Locale and Formatting -

datestyle = 'iso, mdy'
#timezone = unknown         # actually, defaults to TZ 
                    # environment setting
#timezone_abbreviations = 'Default'     # select the set of available timezone
                    # abbreviations. Currently, there are
                    #   Default
                    #   Australia
                    #   India
                    # However you can also 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 -- they might be changed
lc_messages = 'C'           # locale for system error message 
                    # strings
lc_monetary = 'C'           # locale for monetary formatting
lc_numeric = 'C'            # locale for number formatting
lc_time = 'C'               # locale for time formatting

# - 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 Postgres Versions -

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

# - Other Platforms & Clients -

#transform_null_equals = off


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

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

SELECT * FROM pg_stat_activity;

 datid | datname | procpid | usesysid | usename |          current_query          | waiting |          query_start          |         backend_start         | client_addr | client_port 
-------+---------+---------+----------+---------+---------------------------------+---------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------+-------------
 16384 | hqdb    |    3267 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.036781+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.02413+01  | 127.0.0.1   |       47892
 16384 | hqdb    |    3268 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.050994+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.047393+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47893
 16384 | hqdb    |    3269 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.056661+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.053201+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47894
 16384 | hqdb    |    3271 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.062351+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.058822+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47895
 16384 | hqdb    |    3272 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.068328+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.064517+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47896
 16384 | hqdb    |    3273 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.07444+01  | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.070755+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47897
 16384 | hqdb    |    3274 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.080941+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.076983+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47898
 16384 | hqdb    |    3275 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.08741+01  | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.083697+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47899
 16384 | hqdb    |    3276 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.093597+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.089977+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47900
 16384 | hqdb    |    3277 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE> in transaction           | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.133974+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:20.096149+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47901
 16384 | hqdb    |    3308 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-09 10:49:27.402197+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:29.826321+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47902
 16384 | hqdb    |    3309 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.572395+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:29.865243+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47903
 16384 | hqdb    |    3310 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.586273+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:29.874346+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47904
 16384 | hqdb    |    3311 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-09 10:10:03.024088+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:29.883598+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47905
 16384 | hqdb    |    3312 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE> in transaction           | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:35.804457+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:29.892925+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47906
 16384 | hqdb    |    3418 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.580207+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.56911+01  | 127.0.0.1   |       47910
 16384 | hqdb    |    3419 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.59781+01  | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.588609+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47911
 16384 | hqdb    |    3422 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-09 10:10:02.668836+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.603076+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47914
 16384 | hqdb    |    3421 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.770427+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.603086+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47913
 16384 | hqdb    |    3420 |       10 | hqadmin | <IDLE>                          | f       | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.680785+01 | 2011-02-08 15:51:55.637058+01 | 127.0.0.1   |       47912
 16384 | hqdb    |   18233 |       10 | hqadmin | SELECT * FROM pg_stat_activity; | f       | 2011-02-09 10:49:29.688949+01 | 2011-02-09 10:48:13.031475+01 |             |          -1
(21 rows)