ipcclean(1)

NAME

       ipcclean - remove shared memory and semaphores from a failed PostgreSQL
       server

SYNOPSIS

       ipcclean

DESCRIPTION

       ipcclean removes all shared memory segments and semaphore sets owned by
       the  current  user.  It  is intended to be used for cleaning up after a
       crashed PostgreSQL server (postgres(1)). Note that immediately restart-
       ing the server will also clean up shared memory and semaphores, so this
       command is of little real utility.

       Only the database administrator should execute this program as  it  can
       cause  bizarre  behavior (i.e., crashes) if run during multiuser execu-
       tion. If this command is executed while a server is running, the shared
       memory  and  semaphores allocated by that server will be deleted, which
       would have rather severe consequences for that server.

NOTES

       This script is a hack, but in the many years since it was  written,  no
       one has come up with an equally effective and portable solution.  Since
       postgres can now clean up by itself, it is unlikely that ipcclean  will
       be improved upon in the future.

       The  script makes assumptions about the output format of the ipcs util-
       ity which may not be true across different operating  systems.   There-
       fore,  it  may not work on your particular OS. It's wise to look at the
       script before trying it.

Application                       2008-06-08                       IPCCLEAN(1)