-<!-- $PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml,v 1.307 2010/08/23 02:43:25 tgl Exp $ -->
+<!-- $PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml,v 1.308 2010/08/24 13:32:25 momjian Exp $ -->
<chapter Id="runtime-config">
<title>Server Configuration</title>
<para>
Specifies the maximum age (in transactions) that a table's
<structname>pg_class</>.<structfield>relfrozenxid</> field can
- attain before a <command>VACUUM</> operation is forced to allow removal
- of old files from the <filename>pg_clog</> subdirectory and prevent
- transaction ID wraparound within the table. Note that the system
- will launch autovacuum processes to prevent wraparound even when
- autovacuum is otherwise disabled.
- The default is 200 million transactions.
+ attain before a <command>VACUUM</> operation is forced
+ to prevent transaction ID wraparound within the table.
+ Note that the system will launch autovacuum processes to
+ prevent wraparound even when autovacuum is otherwise disabled.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Vacuum also allows removal of old files from the
+ <filename>pg_clog</> subdirectory, which is why the default
+ is a relatively low 200 million transactions.
This parameter can only be set at server start, but the setting
can be reduced for individual tables by
changing storage parameters.