PostgreSQL slightly slow in simple connection and query on PHP

Question

In PHP 5.4.1 i am using native PostgreSQL driver to connect to the SQL server. Even if i try the PDO way it is the same. Only one exception here. If i use pg_pconnect (persistent) it is very fast as i expected.

My Connection from PHP to PostgreSQL is slow. Also, some queries are slow too.

For example please take a look at this table.

id  type    active  serverip
1   1   0   127.0.0.1
2   10  1   127.0.0.1
3   4   1   127.0.0.1
4   7   1   127.0.0.1
5   13  1   127.0.0.1
6   2   1   127.0.0.1
7   11  1   127.0.0.1
8   6   1   127.0.0.1
9   9   1   127.0.0.1
10  3   0   192.168.1.202
11  5   1   127.0.0.1
12  8   1   127.0.0.1
13  12  1   127.0.0.1
14  14  1   127.0.0.1

My query is select * from mytable order by id desc . So,

This table has index and primary key on id . This table is in MySQL 5.5.23 and on PostgreSQL 9.1.3 as same (1:1)

MySQL connects this database and read this table (whole data) in 0.0019 sec. But PostgreSQL takes 0.0069 sec . This may seen as usual but if MySQL can do this in very fast why not PostgreSQL?

In my large tables it takes too longer than this. In large table MySQL connect and fetch in 0.09601 sec, PostgreSQL connect and fetch it in 0.11260 sec 0.14201 sec. (tested now)

As you can see, in this very simple database table PostgreSQL simply slow. This is my postgresql.conf file:

    listen_addresses = '*'      # what IP address(es) to listen on;
                    # comma-separated list of addresses;
                    # defaults to 'localhost', '*' = all
                    # (change requires restart)
port = 5432             # (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).
#superuser_reserved_connections = 3 # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_directory = ''     # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_group = ''         # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_permissions = 0777     # begin with 0 to use octal notation
                    # (change requires restart)
#bonjour = off              # advertise server via Bonjour
                    # (change requires restart)
#bonjour_name = ''          # defaults to the computer name
                    # (change requires restart)

# - Security and Authentication -

authentication_timeout = 20s        # 1s-600s
ssl = off               # (change requires restart)
#ssl_ciphers = 'ALL:!ADH:!LOW:!EXP:!MD5:@STRENGTH'  # allowed SSL ciphers
                    # (change requires restart)
#ssl_renegotiation_limit = 512MB    # amount of data between renegotiations
#password_encryption = on
#db_user_namespace = off

# Kerberos and GSSAPI
#krb_server_keyfile = ''
#krb_srvname = 'postgres'       # (Kerberos only)
#krb_caseins_users = off

# - 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 = 1GB            # min 128kB
                    # (change requires restart)
temp_buffers = 16MB         # min 800kB
max_prepared_transactions = 0       # zero disables the feature
                    # (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).
# It is not advisable to set max_prepared_transactions nonzero unless you
# actively intend to use prepared transactions.
work_mem = 64MB             # min 64kB
maintenance_work_mem = 32MB     # min 1MB
max_stack_depth = 8MB           # min 100kB

# - 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 = 0ms     # 0-100 milliseconds
vacuum_cost_page_hit = 100      # 0-10000 credits
vacuum_cost_page_miss = 100     # 0-10000 credits
vacuum_cost_page_dirty = 200        # 0-10000 credits
vacuum_cost_limit = 2000        # 1-10000 credits

# - Background Writer -

bgwriter_delay = 200ms          # 10-10000ms between rounds
bgwriter_lru_maxpages = 100     # 0-1000 max buffers written/round
bgwriter_lru_multiplier = 2.0       # 0-10.0 multipler on buffers scanned/round

# - Asynchronous Behavior -

#effective_io_concurrency = 1       # 1-1000. 0 disables prefetching


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

# - Settings -

#wal_level = minimal            # minimal, archive, or hot_standby
                    # (change requires restart)
#fsync = on             # turns forced synchronization on or off
#synchronous_commit = on        # synchronization level; on, off, or local
#wal_sync_method = fsync        # the default is the first option
                    # supported by the operating system:
                    #   open_datasync
                    #   fdatasync (default on Linux)
                    #   fsync
                    #   fsync_writethrough
                    #   open_sync
#full_page_writes = on          # recover from partial page writes
#wal_buffers = -1           # min 32kB, -1 sets based on shared_buffers
                    # (change requires restart)
#wal_writer_delay = 200ms       # 1-10000 milliseconds

commit_delay = 0            # range 0-100000, in microseconds
commit_siblings = 5         # range 1-1000

# - Checkpoints -

#checkpoint_segments = 3        # in logfile segments, min 1, 16MB each
#checkpoint_timeout = 5min      # range 30s-1h
#checkpoint_completion_target = 0.5 # checkpoint target duration, 0.0 - 1.0
#checkpoint_warning = 30s       # 0 disables

# - Archiving -

#archive_mode = off     # allows archiving to be done
                # (change requires restart)
#archive_command = ''       # command to use to archive a logfile segment
#archive_timeout = 0        # force a logfile segment switch after this
                # number of seconds; 0 disables


#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# REPLICATION
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# - Master Server -

# These settings are ignored on a standby server

#max_wal_senders = 0        # max number of walsender processes
                # (change requires restart)
#wal_sender_delay = 1s      # walsender cycle time, 1-10000 milliseconds
#wal_keep_segments = 0      # in logfile segments, 16MB each; 0 disables
#vacuum_defer_cleanup_age = 0   # number of xacts by which cleanup is delayed
#replication_timeout = 60s  # in milliseconds; 0 disables
#synchronous_standby_names = '' # standby servers that provide sync rep
                # comma-separated list of application_name
                # from standby(s); '*' = all

# - Standby Servers -

# These settings are ignored on a master server

#hot_standby = off          # "on" allows queries during recovery
                    # (change requires restart)
#max_standby_archive_delay = 30s    # max delay before canceling queries
                    # when reading WAL from archive;
                    # -1 allows indefinite delay
#max_standby_streaming_delay = 30s  # max delay before canceling queries
                    # when reading streaming WAL;
                    # -1 allows indefinite delay
#wal_receiver_status_interval = 10s # send replies at least this often
                    # 0 disables
#hot_standby_feedback = off     # send info from standby to prevent
                    # query conflicts


#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# QUERY TUNING
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# - Planner Method Configuration -

enable_bitmapscan = on
enable_hashagg = on
enable_hashjoin = on
enable_indexscan = on
enable_material = 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 = 512MB

# - 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
geqo_seed = 0.0         # range 0.0-1.0

# - Other Planner Options -

#default_statistics_target = 100    # range 1-10000
#constraint_exclusion = partition   # on, off, or partition
#cursor_tuple_fraction = 0.1        # range 0.0-1.0
#from_collapse_limit = 8
#join_collapse_limit = 8        # 1 disables collapsing of explicit
                    # JOIN clauses


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

# - Where to Log -

log_destination = 'stderr'      # Valid values are combinations of
                    # stderr, csvlog, syslog, and eventlog,
                    # depending on platform.  csvlog
                    # requires logging_collector to be on.

# This is used when logging to stderr:
logging_collector = on          # Enable capturing of stderr and csvlog
                    # into log files. Required to be on for
                    # csvlogs.
                    # (change requires restart)

# These are only used if logging_collector is on:
log_directory = 'pg_log'        # directory where log files are written,
                    # can be absolute or relative to PGDATA
log_filename = 'postgresql-%a.log'  # log file name pattern,
                    # can include strftime() escapes
log_file_mode = 0777            # creation mode for log files,
                    # begin with 0 to use octal notation
log_truncate_on_rotation = on       # If on, an existing log file with 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 disables.
log_rotation_size = 0           # Automatic rotation of logfiles will
                    # happen after that much log output.
                    # 0 disables.

# These are relevant when logging to syslog:
#syslog_facility = 'LOCAL0'
#syslog_ident = 'postgres'

#silent_mode = off          # Run server silently.
                    # DO NOT USE without syslog or
                    # logging_collector
                    # (change requires restart)


# - 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 = warning     # values in order of decreasing detail:
                    #   debug5
                    #   debug4
                    #   debug3
                    #   debug2
                    #   debug1
                    #   info
                    #   notice
                    #   warning
                    #   error
                    #   log
                    #   fatal
                    #   panic

#log_min_error_statement = error    # values in order of decreasing detail:
                    #   debug5
                    #   debug4
                    #   debug3
                    #   debug2
                    #   debug1
                    #   info
                    #   notice
                    #   warning
                    #   error
                    #   log
                    #   fatal
                    #   panic (effectively off)

#log_min_duration_statement = -1    # -1 is disabled, 0 logs all statements
                    # and their durations, > 0 logs only
                    # statements running at least this number
                    # of milliseconds


# - What to Log -

#debug_print_parse = off
#debug_print_rewritten = off
#debug_print_plan = off
#debug_pretty_print = on
log_checkpoints = off
#log_connections = off
log_disconnections = off
log_duration = off
log_error_verbosity = default       # terse, default, or verbose messages
log_hostname = off
#log_line_prefix = ''           # special values:
                    #   %a = application name
                    #   %u = user name
                    #   %d = database name
                    #   %r = remote host and port
                    #   %h = remote host
                    #   %p = process ID
                    #   %t = timestamp without milliseconds
                    #   %m = timestamp with milliseconds
                    #   %i = command tag
                    #   %e = SQL state
                    #   %c = session ID
                    #   %l = session line number
                    #   %s = session start timestamp
                    #   %v = virtual transaction ID
                    #   %x = transaction ID (0 if none)
                    #   %q = stop here in non-session
                    #        processes
                    #   %% = '%'
                    # e.g. '<%u%%%d> '
log_lock_waits = off            # log lock waits >= deadlock_timeout
#log_statement = 'none'         # none, ddl, mod, all
#log_temp_files = -1            # log temporary files equal or larger
                    # than the specified size in kilobytes;
                    # -1 disables, 0 logs all temp files
#log_timezone = '(defaults to server environment setting)'


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

# - Query/Index Statistics Collector -

track_activities = on
track_counts = on
track_functions = none          # none, pl, all
track_activity_query_size = 1024    # (change requires restart)
update_process_title = on
stats_temp_directory = 'pg_stat_tmp'


# - Statistics Monitoring -

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


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

autovacuum = on         # Enable autovacuum subprocess?  'on'
                    # requires track_counts to also be on.
log_autovacuum_min_duration = -1    # -1 disables, 0 logs all actions and
                    # their durations, > 0 logs only
                    # actions running at least this number
                    # of milliseconds.
autovacuum_max_workers = 3      # max number of autovacuum subprocesses
                    # (change requires restart)
autovacuum_naptime = 1min       # time between autovacuum runs
autovacuum_vacuum_threshold = 50    # min number of row updates before
                    # vacuum
autovacuum_analyze_threshold = 50   # min number of row updates before
                    # analyze
autovacuum_vacuum_scale_factor = 0.2    # fraction of table size before vacuum
autovacuum_analyze_scale_factor = 0.1   # fraction of table size before analyze
autovacuum_freeze_max_age = 200000000   # maximum XID age before forced vacuum
                    # (change requires restart)
autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay = 20ms # default vacuum cost delay for
                    # autovacuum, in milliseconds;
                    # -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
temp_tablespaces = ''           # a list of tablespace names, '' uses
                    # only default tablespace
check_function_bodies = on
default_transaction_isolation = 'read committed'
default_transaction_read_only = off
default_transaction_deferrable = off
session_replication_role = 'origin'
statement_timeout = 0           # in milliseconds, 0 is disabled
vacuum_freeze_min_age = 50000000
vacuum_freeze_table_age = 150000000
bytea_output = 'hex'            # hex, escape
xmlbinary = 'base64'
xmloption = 'content'

# - Locale and Formatting -

datestyle = 'iso, mdy'
#intervalstyle = 'postgres'
#timezone = '(defaults to server environment setting)'
#timezone_abbreviations = 'Default'     # Select the set of available time zone
                    # abbreviations.  Currently, there are
                    #   Default
                    #   Australia
                    #   India
                    # You can create your own file in
                    # share/timezonesets/.
#extra_float_digits = 0         # min -15, max 3
#client_encoding = sql_ascii        # actually, defaults to database
                    # encoding

# These settings are initialized by initdb, but they can be changed.
lc_messages = 'en_US.UTF-8'         # locale for system error message
                    # strings
lc_monetary = 'en_US.UTF-8'         # locale for monetary formatting
lc_numeric = 'en_US.UTF-8'          # locale for number formatting
lc_time = 'en_US.UTF-8'             # locale for time formatting

# default configuration for text search
default_text_search_config = 'pg_catalog.english'

# - Other Defaults -

#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.
max_pred_locks_per_transaction = 64 # min 10
                    # (change requires restart)

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# VERSION/PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# - Previous PostgreSQL Versions -

#array_nulls = on
#backslash_quote = safe_encoding    # on, off, or safe_encoding
#default_with_oids = off
#escape_string_warning = on
#lo_compat_privileges = off
#quote_all_identifiers = off
#sql_inheritance = on
#standard_conforming_strings = on
#synchronize_seqscans = on

# - Other Platforms and Clients -

#transform_null_equals = off


#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# ERROR HANDLING
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

exit_on_error = off             # terminate session on any error?
restart_after_crash = on            # reinitialize after backend crash?


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

custom_variable_classes = ''        # list of custom variable class names

And here is the pg_hba.conf file:

local   all             postgres                                trust

# TYPE  DATABASE        USER            ADDRESS                 METHOD

# "local" is for Unix domain socket connections only
local   all             all                                     trust
host    all             postgres             192.168.1.0/24         trust
host    all             all                  127.0.0.0/24          trust

I tried enable/disable autovacuum, disable logging etc. Not worked. M system has 8 CPU with 3GB memory and i have 1 TB dedicated space for this SQL server.

Any idea and help is appreciated.

Note: This page does not solve my problem.

Conclusion : Get PGPool-II 3.x. Very easy to setup (as mentioned in answer) and really fast!

Answer 1

Anecdotally MySQL has been to be be faster at establishing connections. In environments like PHP where connections are being setup and torn down so fast, as opposed to longer running connections in an application environment such as Rails or the JVM.

In this case it might make sense to use a connection pool for Postgres. Two come to mind:

PGPool-II: http://www.pgpool.net/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page

PgBouncer: http://pgfoundry.org/projects/pgbouncer/

I've used PGPool-II and its pretty easy to setup.

Answer 2

ummm.... I am no expert here, but wouldn't you want to bind your hba to a NIC or to localhost rather than to a network?

on a windows machine,

# IPv4 local connections:
host    all             all             127.0.0.1/32            md5
# IPv6 local connections:
host    all             all             ::1/128                 md5

how much RAM do you have? how much virtual memory? if VM gets too big, it can slow down the machine. but sometimes you just need it.

Answer 3

I don't know much about PostgreSQL, but I can tell you about why MySQL is fast for this particular query.

With InnoDB, primary key indexes are clustered indexes, which means that the pages are stored in the same physical order as the primary key.

Finally, when you are requesting ORDER BY DESC , MySQL simply reads the index backwards, so the performance is the same as ASC.