Parameter reference for Aurora PostgreSQL query plan management - Amazon Aurora
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Parameter reference for Aurora PostgreSQL query plan management

You can set your preferences for the apg_plan_mgmt extension by using the parameters listed in this section. These are available in the custom DB cluster parameter and the DB parameter group associated with your Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster. These parameters control the behavior of the query plan management feature and how it affects the optimizer. For information about setting up query plan management, see Turning on Aurora PostgreSQL query plan management. Changing the parameters following has no effect if the apg_plan_mgmt extension isn't set up as detailed in that section. For information about modifying parameters, see Modifying parameters in a DB cluster parameter group and Working with DB parameter groups.

apg_plan_mgmt.capture_plan_baselines

Captures query execution plans generated by the optimizer for each SQL statement and stores them in the dba_plans view. By default, the maximum number of plans that can be stored is 10,000 as specified by the apg_plan_mgmt.max_plans parameter. For reference information, see apg_plan_mgmt.max_plans.

You can set this parameter in the custom DB cluster parameter group or in the custom DB parameter group. Changing the value of this parameter doesn't require a reboot.

Default Allowed values Description
off automatic Turns on plan capture for all databases on the DB instance. Collects a plan for each SQL statement that runs two or more times. Use this setting for large or evolving workloads to provide plan stability.
manual Turns on plan capture for subsequent statements only, until you turn it off again. Using this setting lets you capture query execution plans for specific critical SQL statements only or for known problematic queries.
off Turns off plan capture.

For more information, see Capturing Aurora PostgreSQL execution plans.

apg_plan_mgmt.max_databases

Specifies the maximum number of databases on your Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster's Writer instance that can use query plan management. By default, up to 10 databases can use query plan management. If you have more than 10 databases on the instance, you can change the value of this setting. To find out how many databases are on a given instance, connect to the instance using psql. Then, use the psql metacommand, \l, to list the databases.

Changing the value of this parameter requires that you reboot the instance for the setting to take effect.

Default Allowed values Description
10 10-2147483647 Maximum number of databases that can use query plan management on the instance.

You can set this parameter in the custom DB cluster parameter group or in the custom DB parameter group.

apg_plan_mgmt.max_plans

Sets the maximum number of SQL statements that the query plan manager can maintain in the apg_plan_mgmt.dba_plans view. We recommend setting this parameter to 10000 or higher for all Aurora PostgreSQL versions.

You can set this parameter in the custom DB cluster parameter group or in the custom DB parameter group. Changing the value of this parameter requires that you reboot the instance for the setting to take effect.

Default Allowed values Description
10000 10-2147483647

Maximum number of plans that can be stored in the apg_plan_mgmt.dba_plans view.

Default for Aurora PostgreSQL version 10 and older versions is 1000.

For more information, see Examining Aurora PostgreSQL query plans in the dba_plans view.

apg_plan_mgmt.plan_retention_period

Specifies the number of days to keep plans in the apg_plan_mgmt.dba_plans view, after which they're automatically deleted. By default, a plan is deleted when 32 days have elapsed since the plan was last used (the last_used column in the apg_plan_mgmt.dba_plans view). You can change this setting to any number, 32 and over.

Changing the value of this parameter requires that you reboot the instance for the setting to take effect.

Default Allowed values Description
32 32-2147483647 Maximum number of days since a plan was last used before it's deleted.

For more information, see Examining Aurora PostgreSQL query plans in the dba_plans view.

apg_plan_mgmt.unapproved_plan_execution_threshold

Specifies a threshold below which an Unapproved plan can be used by the optimizer. By default, the optimizer doesn't run Unapproved plans. If you have an Unapproved plan that you suspect might be better than an Approved plan, you can use this parameter to sidestep the optimizer's default behavior. The value of this parameter represents a cost estimate for running a given plan. If an Unapproved plan is below that estimated cost, the optimizer uses it for the SQL statement. You can see captured plans and their status (Approved, Unapproved) in the dba_plans view. To learn more, see Examining Aurora PostgreSQL query plans in the dba_plans view.

Changing the value of this parameter doesn't require a reboot.

Default Allowed values Description
0 0-2147483647 Estimated plan cost below which an Unapproved plan is used.

For more information, see Using Aurora PostgreSQL managed plans.

apg_plan_mgmt.use_plan_baselines

Specifies that the optimizer should use one of the Approved plans captured and stored in the apg_plan_mgmt.dba_plans view. By default, this parameter is off (false), causing the optimizer to use the minimum-cost plan that it generates without any further assessment. Turning this parameter on (setting it to true) forces the optimizer to choose a query execution plan for the statement from its plan baseline. For more information, see Using Aurora PostgreSQL managed plans. To find an image detailing this process, see How the optimizer chooses which plan to run.

You can set this parameter in the custom DB cluster parameter group or in the custom DB parameter group. Changing the value of this parameter doesn't require a reboot.

Default Allowed values Description
false true Use an Approved, Preferred, or Unapproved plan from the apg_plan_mgmt.dba_plans. If none of those meet all evaluation criterion for the optimizer, it can then use its own generated minimum-cost plan. For more information, see How the optimizer chooses which plan to run.
false Use the minimum cost plan generated by the optimizer.

You can evaluate response times of different captured plans and change plan status, as needed. For more information, see Maintaining Aurora PostgreSQL execution plans.