RPM vs. Compile benefits?

[Doug Y]

Hello,
I'm curious if I would see any specific benefit from compiling
Postgres from scratch vs. using an RPM supplied by the distribution?
We're currently using 7.4.2 from an RPM on SuSE 9.0 Pro. I'd guess RPMs
are usually configured with the least common denominator in mind. All
the software is stock on the system from SuSE. I'd guess I might see
some overall system performance by a custom kernel compile (currently
2.6.4-52-smp), but thats not directly Postgres related. Hardware is dual
Intel P3-1Ghz / 4G Ram / raid 0 if that makes any difference.

Also, any significant reason to upgrade to 7.4.5? Obviously if compiling
would be a boost, I'd also upgrade at the same time, but only unless I
had a meaningful reason to compile in the first place. I've heard 7.4.2
has some problems with index bloat? How would that manifest itself?

Thanks!

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[Bruno Wolff III]

On Fri, Oct 22, 2004 at 11:04:04 -0400,

Post by Doug Y
Hello,
I'm curious if I would see any specific benefit from compiling
Postgres from scratch vs. using an RPM supplied by the distribution?
We're currently using 7.4.2 from an RPM on SuSE 9.0 Pro. I'd guess RPMs
are usually configured with the least common denominator in mind. All
the software is stock on the system from SuSE. I'd guess I might see
some overall system performance by a custom kernel compile (currently
2.6.4-52-smp), but thats not directly Postgres related. Hardware is dual
Intel P3-1Ghz / 4G Ram / raid 0 if that makes any difference.

The rpms prossibly include some stuff that is not part of the core project
but are still things you want to have. Figuring out what you want and
pulling it all together may be more work than you want to do. Also
rembember that if you change build options you should do a dump and
restore even when upgrading between minor releases in the same series
(unless you know for sure the changed build options won't change the
disk layout).

Post by Doug Y
Also, any significant reason to upgrade to 7.4.5? Obviously if compiling
would be a boost, I'd also upgrade at the same time, but only unless I
had a meaningful reason to compile in the first place. I've heard 7.4.2
has some problems with index bloat? How would that manifest itself?

I think the answer to this is yes you should upgrade. But you can look
at the release notes and decide for yourself.

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[Devrim GUNDUZ]

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Hi,

I'm curious if I would see any specific benefit from compiling Postgres from
scratch vs. using an RPM supplied by the distribution?

Remembering that we can build our own RPMS using SRPMS, I've always
believed that package management systems have much more advantages. I've
always built my own RPMS by modifying spec files.

Regards,

- --
Devrim GUNDUZ
devrim~gunduz.org devrim.gunduz~linux.org.tr
http://www.tdmsoft.com
http://www.gunduz.org
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