Chapter 1, PostgreSQL Versions, introduces how PostgreSQL performance has improved in the most recent versions of the database. It makes a case for using the most recent version feasible, in contrast to the common presumption that newer versions of any software are buggier and slower than their predecessors.
Chapter 2, Database Hardware, discusses how the main components in server hardware, including processors, memory, and disks, need to be carefully selected for reliable database storage and a balanced budget. In particular, accidentally using volatile write-back caching in disk controllers and drives can easily introduce database corruption.
Chapter 3, Database Hardware Benchmarking, moves on to quantifying the different ...
