powa
PostgreSQL Workload Analyser-core
Overview
| Package | Version | Category | License | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
powa | 5.1.1 | STAT | PostgreSQL | Python |
| ID | Extension | Bin | Lib | Load | Create | Trust | Reloc | Schema |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6870 | powa | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | public |
| Related | plpgsql pg_stat_statements btree_gist pg_stat_kcache pg_qualstats pg_wait_sampling hypopg plprofiler pg_profile pg_track_settings btree_gin |
|---|
pgdg missing el10.pg17
Version
| Type | Repo | Version | PG Ver | Package | Deps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXT | PGDG | 5.1.1 | 1817161514 | powa | plpgsql, pg_stat_statements, btree_gist |
| RPM | PGDG | 5.1.0 | 1817161514 | powa_$v | - |
| DEB | PGDG | 5.1.1 | 1817161514 | postgresql-$v-powa | - |
Install
You can install powa directly. First, make sure the PGDG repository is added and enabled:
pig repo add pgdg -u # Add PGDG repo and update cache
Install the extension using pig or apt/yum/dnf:
pig install powa; # Install for current active PG version
pig ext install -y powa -v 18 # PG 18
pig ext install -y powa -v 17 # PG 17
pig ext install -y powa -v 16 # PG 16
pig ext install -y powa -v 15 # PG 15
pig ext install -y powa -v 14 # PG 14
dnf install -y powa_18 # PG 18
dnf install -y powa_17 # PG 17
dnf install -y powa_16 # PG 16
dnf install -y powa_15 # PG 15
dnf install -y powa_14 # PG 14
apt install -y postgresql-18-powa # PG 18
apt install -y postgresql-17-powa # PG 17
apt install -y postgresql-16-powa # PG 16
apt install -y postgresql-15-powa # PG 15
apt install -y postgresql-14-powa # PG 14
Create Extension:
CREATE EXTENSION powa CASCADE; -- requires: plpgsql, pg_stat_statements, btree_gist
Usage
PoWA is a workload analysis framework that collects performance statistics and provides real-time charts through a web UI. The core extension (powa-archivist) snapshots statistics from multiple stat extensions.
Architecture
PoWA consists of several components:
- powa-archivist: The PostgreSQL extension that collects and stores statistics
- powa-web: A web UI for visualizing performance data
- pg_stat_statements: Required for query statistics
- pg_qualstats: Optional, provides predicate statistics and index suggestions
- pg_stat_kcache: Optional, provides OS-level metrics (CPU, I/O)
- pg_wait_sampling: Optional, provides wait event sampling
Taking Snapshots
PoWA periodically snapshots statistics from all registered extensions:
-- Manual snapshot
SELECT powa_take_snapshot();
-- Check snapshot status
SELECT * FROM powa_snapshot_metas;
Configuration
-- Register stat extensions (done automatically on CREATE EXTENSION)
SELECT powa_register_server(hostname => 'localhost', port => 5432);
-- Configure snapshot interval and retention
ALTER EXTENSION powa UPDATE;
Key Tables and Views
-- View collected query statistics
SELECT * FROM powa_statements;
-- View snapshot history
SELECT * FROM powa_snapshot_metas;
Web UI
The PoWA web interface (installed separately) provides:
- Real-time query performance dashboards
- Per-query drill-down with plan details
- Index suggestions based on
pg_qualstats - Wait event analysis
- System resource usage graphs
Documentation: powa.readthedocs.io
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