The article explains why Ubicloud enforces strict memory overcommit settings on its PostgreSQL instances to prevent the Linux OOM killer from terminating database processes during memory pressure. It details the risks associated with default kernel behavior and how strict limits ensure predictable performance and stability for critical database workloads.
Background
Memory overcommit is a Linux kernel feature that allows allocating more virtual memory than physically available, which can lead to Out-Of-Memory (OOM) kills when actual usage spikes. Database administrators often disable this or tune it strictly to maintain data integrity and service availability.
- Source
- Hacker News (RSS)
- Published
- Jul 3, 2026 at 09:00 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10