database Archives

Tech Optimizer

May 2, 2025

15 PostgreSQL Monitoring Tools

PostgreSQL monitoring tools are essential for database administrators to ensure optimal performance, availability, and reliability of databases. They provide real-time insights into performance metrics such as query execution times, CPU usage, memory consumption, and disk I/O, helping identify potential bottlenecks. Popular monitoring solutions include: - **DynaTrace**: AI-powered full-stack monitoring with real-time anomaly detection and performance insights. - **pgAdmin**: Comprehensive management tool with a graphical interface for database design and performance monitoring. - **Paessler PRTG**: All-in-one network monitoring solution with customizable PostgreSQL sensors and real-time tracking. - **Pganalyze**: Offers deep insights, automated query analysis, and visualizations for optimizing database operations. - **Sematext PostgreSQL Monitoring**: Cloud-based monitoring with detailed metrics, anomaly detection, and alerts. - **SolarWinds**: Database performance analyzer providing profound insights and real-time monitoring. - **Nagios**: Open-source system with PostgreSQL plugins for performance tracking and alerting. - **Pgwatch2**: Lightweight monitoring tool offering dashboards and real-time metrics. - **ManageEngine Application Manager**: Full-stack monitoring with detailed PostgreSQL metrics and alerts. - **DataDog**: Cloud-based platform with comprehensive metrics, anomaly detection, and customizable dashboards. - **Prometheus and Grafana**: Open-source stack with powerful query language, alerting, and customizable dashboards. - **PGObserver**: Tool offering detailed performance statistics, historical data analysis, and alerts. - **ClusterControl**: Management tool with monitoring, backups, and performance tuning. - **AppOptics APM**: Application performance monitoring with real-time metrics and anomaly detection. - **AppDynamics**: Enterprise-grade APM tool with advanced monitoring and root-cause analysis. These tools provide unique features tailored to the needs of PostgreSQL database administrators, facilitating real-time monitoring and advanced analytics for maintaining database performance and reliability.

Tech Optimizer

May 2, 2025

Amazon Aurora now supports PostgreSQL major version 17

Amazon Aurora has integrated support for PostgreSQL major version 17, specifically version 17.4. This release includes enhancements such as improved memory management, faster storage metadata initialization, and optimizations for write-heavy workloads on Graviton 4 instances. It also introduces new features for Babelfish, security updates, and revisions to extensions like pgvector 0.8.0 and postgis 3.5.1. PostgreSQL 17.4 is available across all commercial AWS Regions and AWS GovCloud (US) Regions. Users can create a new Aurora PostgreSQL-compatible database through the Amazon RDS Management Console and should review the Aurora documentation for upgrade strategies.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

5 alternatives to the Windows Task Manager that you should be using

Windows Task Manager has been enhanced in Windows 11, featuring a streamlined interface and improved functionality. Alternatives to Task Manager include: - System Informer: A free, open-source tool that monitors system resources with real-time performance graphs and detailed process information. It displays CPU, memory, and disk usage, tracks file access, and offers advanced features like call stack traces. - System Explorer: Integrates system monitoring with security features, providing a clean interface for exploring processes, modules, and network connections. It includes a built-in file database and VirusTotal integration for security assessments. - Process Lasso: Extends Task Manager capabilities by allowing users to adjust CPU priority and core affinities. Features include ProBalance for automatic CPU adjustments, performance mode for optimizing CPU usage, IdleSaver for power management, and SmartTrim for memory optimization. - Process Explorer: A Sysinternals tool that offers a detailed view of running processes in a hierarchical tree format, showing user, PID, and resource usage. It includes a search capability for identifying resource usage and integrates with VirusTotal for security checks. - Task Manager DeLuxe (TMX): A portable task management tool that consolidates system stats across multiple tabs, providing quick access to CPU and memory usage, along with graphical representations of network and disk activity. It allows filtering and searching for processes and can be run from a USB drive.

Tech Optimizer

April 30, 2025

PostgreSQL 18: Part 4, or CommitFest 2025-01

PostgreSQL 18 includes significant enhancements in monitoring capabilities and new features. Key updates include: - Buffer information in EXPLAIN ANALYZE is now enabled by default, providing detailed buffer statistics for better query performance insights. - The pg_stat_io view tracks I/O statistics in bytes (read_bytes, write_bytes, extend_bytes), simplifying monitoring of I/O operations. - Enhanced monitoring of Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) statistics is introduced, allowing tracking of WAL operations and new WAL segment initialization. - The pg_stat_get_backend_io function provides I/O statistics for specific client processes, aiding in performance tuning. - The VACUUM (verbose) command now includes visibility map information, detailing all-visible pages after a vacuum operation. - The pg_stat_all_table view tracks total vacuum and analysis times per table, and users can adjust autovacuum workers without server restarts. - A new uuidv7 function generates UUIDs with a Unix-epoch timestamp for ordered identifiers. - The passwordcheck extension enforces a minimum password length for better security practices. - Improvements to the jsonb type ensure correct handling of null conversions. - The casefold function facilitates case-insensitive searches. - The RETURNING clause in DML commands now supports returning both old and new values. - The to_number function can convert Roman numerals to numeric values.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

How to use Truecaller efficiently on Android

Truecaller is an application for identifying unknown callers and blocking spam calls. To optimize its performance on Android, users should regularly update the app, customize settings for notifications and privacy, enable the Caller ID feature, utilize the spam blocking feature, and report spam numbers to improve the app's database.

Tech Optimizer

April 30, 2025

Avast Antivirus Vulnerability Let Attackers Escalate Privileges

A significant vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-3500, has been identified in Avast Free Antivirus, allowing attackers to gain elevated system privileges and execute malicious code at the kernel level. The vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 8.8 and was publicly disclosed on April 24, 2025, shortly after a patch was implemented. It originates from inadequate validation of user-supplied data in the aswbidsdriver kernel driver, leading to an integer overflow prior to buffer allocation. Attackers must first execute low-privileged code on the target system to exploit this vulnerability. The flaw affects multiple versions of Avast Free Antivirus, specifically versions ranging from 20.1.2397 to 2016.11.1.2262. A fix was released in version 25.3.9983.922, and users are urged to update their software promptly. Security experts recommend enabling automatic updates and using standard user accounts for daily activities to mitigate risks.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Microsoft’s AI Secretly Copying All Your Private Messages

Microsoft is relaunching its AI-driven feature, Recall, which continuously captures background screenshots on Copilot+ PCs optimized for AI functionalities. Initially introduced in May, Recall was retracted due to privacy concerns over unencrypted storage of screenshots containing sensitive user data. After testing through Microsoft's Insider program, Recall has been updated to encrypt the screenshot database and requires users to opt in to save screenshots. However, it still poses risks by potentially capturing sensitive information from communications without the knowledge of other parties involved. Security researcher Kevin Beaumont has noted that the sensitive information filter is unreliable, and the encrypted database is only secured by a basic four-digit PIN. Beaumont's testing revealed that Recall indexed everything it stored, including ephemeral messages and images. He cautioned users to check if Recall is enabled when discussing sensitive topics with others on Windows PCs.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Microsoft Recall finally launches for AI PC users, along with some other new features, almost one year after Copilot+ was announced

Microsoft has reintroduced its Recall feature, initially designed for Qualcomm Snapdragon X-powered laptops, which captures snapshots of users' desktops to help locate old documents, images, and web pages. Enhanced security measures have been implemented, including Windows Hello sign-in, data encryption, and isolation protocols, with all data processed locally on users' devices. Recall is an opt-in feature that can be removed. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced an AI-powered Windows search mechanism that allows users to search for files by description. These features are currently exclusive to devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors, with support for AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V series chips expected later this year. Users without compatible hardware must rely on traditional file management methods.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

Search Bar Not Working in Windows 11? Follow these Fixes

Numerous users have reported issues with the search bar functionality in Windows 11. A guide has been compiled to offer effective solutions, including: 1. Restarting File Explorer by opening Task Manager, finding "Windows Explorer," right-clicking it, and selecting "Restart." 2. Rebuilding the search index by accessing Windows Settings, navigating to Privacy & Security, selecting "Searching Windows," clicking on "Advanced indexing options," and choosing "Rebuild." 3. Starting the Windows Search service by opening the Run dialog, typing services.msc, locating "Windows Search," stopping the service, starting it again, setting the Startup type to "Automatic," and restarting the PC. 4. Ending the SearchHost.exe task in Task Manager by finding "Search," right-clicking it, and selecting "End task." 5. Using the Recovery tool via Windows Update by accessing Windows Settings, navigating to System -> Recovery, and clicking "Reinstall now" next to "Fix problems using Windows Update." Rebooting after these steps should restore the search bar's functionality. Rebuilding the search index can enhance local search speed, and users may also consider removing Bing search results from the Start menu.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

5 ways to use the Linux terminal on your Android phone

Android 15 includes a fully functional Linux terminal, allowing users to execute familiar commands, though running GUI applications can be challenging. With Android 16, the terminal receives more space. Users can connect to remote machines via SSH by configuring the SSH config file for easier access. The terminal serves as a platform for learning the Linux command line, executing commands, and accessing manuals. Developers can use it for coding, with Python pre-installed, and can create applications directly on their devices. The terminal also supports the installation of the MariaDB database server for database management. Additionally, users can create hidden files for storing sensitive notes using the Nano editor.