How to set tcp_keepalives in the Pivotal Greenplum Database or the Server OS level

Products

• VMware Tanzu Greenplum

Issue/Introduction

This article describes the difference between setting the tcp_keepalives in the Greenplum Database and at the Server OS level.

Environment

Resolution

The tcp_keepalives parameters at the OS level are similar to tcp_keepalive parameters in the DB level.

The difference is that if the tcp_keepalives parameters are set at the OS level it will affect everything on the system. Whereas, if they are set only at the DB level it will only affect the DB connections.

It is best to adjust the parameters at the DB level first. Ensure that the parameters set at the OS level are higher than what they are set at the DB level. If a shorter time period is set at the OS level, then the connections will be closed earlier than what has been set at the DB level.
 

The tcp_keepalive parameters in the Greenplum Database are:

tcp_keepalives_interval
tcp_keepalives_idle
tcp_keepalives_count

Note: More information on these parameters can be found in the Greenplum System Administrators Guide.