📋

Description

This error indicates that the PostgreSQL database server or the underlying operating system has run out of available disk space. It typically occurs when the system attempts to write data, logs, or temporary files but cannot allocate the necessary storage.

💬

Error Message

disk full

🔍

Known Causes

3 known causes

⚠️

Database Data & WAL Growth

The primary PostgreSQL data directory, including tables, indexes, and Write-Ahead Log (WAL) files, has expanded beyond the available disk capacity.

⚠️

Operating System Disk Consumption

Other applications, system files, or user data on the same storage volume as PostgreSQL have consumed critical disk space.

⚠️

Excessive Log File Accumulation

PostgreSQL transaction logs, server logs, or operating system logs are configured to retain too much data, leading to a build-up that exhausts disk space.

🛠️

Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Free Disk Space easy

Remove unnecessary files to free space

1

Check disk usage

df -h

2

Find large files

du -sh /var/lib/postgresql/*
du -sh /var/log/*

3

Clear old WAL files (if not needed)

-- Check archive status first
SELECT * FROM pg_stat_archiver;

4

Clean old logs

sudo find /var/log/postgresql -name '*.log' -mtime +30 -delete

2. Vacuum Database medium

Reclaim space from dead tuples

1

Run VACUUM

VACUUM FULL your_table;  -- Reclaims space (locks table)
-- Or
VACUUM your_table;  -- Less aggressive, no lock

2

Vacuum entire database

vacuumdb -U postgres -d your_database -f

3. Add More Disk Space medium

Expand storage capacity

1

Add disk space to server

# Cloud: Expand volume size
# On-prem: Add disk and expand LVM

2

Move tablespace to new disk

CREATE TABLESPACE new_space LOCATION '/mnt/new_disk/pg_data';
ALTER TABLE big_table SET TABLESPACE new_space;

4. Archive Old Data medium

Move historical data to separate storage

1

Create archive table

CREATE TABLE logs_archive (LIKE logs INCLUDING ALL);

2

Move old data

INSERT INTO logs_archive SELECT * FROM logs WHERE created_at < '2023-01-01';
DELETE FROM logs WHERE created_at < '2023-01-01';
VACUUM logs;

🔗

Related Errors

5 related errors

PostgreSQL Error 53100: Insufficient Disk Space