PostgreSQL and Linux Kernel interactions

PostgreSQL interacts with the Linux kernel at multiple points during its runtime. This talk will provide an in-depth examination of these interactions. The session will delve into kernel internals for operations such as file reading and writing, buffer cache interactions, process initialization, memory management, among others. Attendees will also gain foundational knowledge on identifying and troubleshooting bottlenecks within these interactions using tools like strace, perf, fincore, and /proc entries. The talk will conclude with insights into ongoing efforts to leverage more advanced and efficient kernel facilities, demonstrated through examples such as copy_file_range (to enhance file data handling) and io_uring (for asynchronous IO).