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Which parameters are only used on startup?
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* Which parameters are only used on startup?
@ 2025-11-26 09:34 PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>
  2025-12-23 00:14 ` Re: Which parameters are only used on startup? Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 4+ messages in thread

From: PG Doc comments form @ 2025-11-26 09:34 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org; +Cc: colinthart@gmail.com

The following documentation comment has been logged on the website:

Page: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/18/runtime-config-connection.html
Description:

Clarify that ssl_cert_file and ssl_key_file are only read on startup --
implying that the params can be changed and the files moved to the new
location/name without requiring a restart. Of course a restart is good to
validate that the params and files are configured correctly.


^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread

* Re: Which parameters are only used on startup?
  2025-11-26 09:34 Which parameters are only used on startup? PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>
@ 2025-12-23 00:14 ` Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
  2025-12-23 00:29   ` Re: Which parameters are only used on startup? Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 4+ messages in thread

From: Bruce Momjian @ 2025-12-23 00:14 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: colinthart@gmail.com; pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org

On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 09:34:18AM +0000, PG Doc comments form wrote:
> The following documentation comment has been logged on the website:
> 
> Page: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/18/runtime-config-connection.html
> Description:
> 
> Clarify that ssl_cert_file and ssl_key_file are only read on startup --
> implying that the params can be changed and the files moved to the new
> location/name without requiring a restart. Of course a restart is good to
> validate that the params and files are configured correctly.

The docs say that you can only change this in postgresql.conf or on the
command line.  Changes to postgresql.conf requires pg_ctl reload or
something similar.

I am not aware of anyone else who thinks changing postgresql.conf and
then reloading causes the session to use new ssl keys/files, and
explaining that in the docs might be more confusing than helpful.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        https://momjian.us
  EDB                                      https://enterprisedb.com

  Do not let urgent matters crowd out time for investment in the future.





^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread

* Re: Which parameters are only used on startup?
  2025-11-26 09:34 Which parameters are only used on startup? PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>
  2025-12-23 00:14 ` Re: Which parameters are only used on startup? Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
@ 2025-12-23 00:29   ` Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
  2025-12-23 00:50     ` Re: Which parameters are only used on startup? Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 4+ messages in thread

From: Tom Lane @ 2025-12-23 00:29 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>; +Cc: colinthart@gmail.com; pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org

Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us> writes:
> On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 09:34:18AM +0000, PG Doc comments form wrote:
>> Clarify that ssl_cert_file and ssl_key_file are only read on startup --
>> implying that the params can be changed and the files moved to the new
>> location/name without requiring a restart. Of course a restart is good to
>> validate that the params and files are configured correctly.

> The docs say that you can only change this in postgresql.conf or on the
> command line.  Changes to postgresql.conf requires pg_ctl reload or
> something similar.

The actual problem with this change request is that it's wrong.
We've supported changing ssl_cert_file --- either the GUC value
or the file contents --- via "pg_ctl reload" or equivalent for
years now (cf. commits de41869b6, 6667d9a6d).  So I don't see
anything wrong with the docs text as it stands.

			regards, tom lane





^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread

* Re: Which parameters are only used on startup?
  2025-11-26 09:34 Which parameters are only used on startup? PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>
  2025-12-23 00:14 ` Re: Which parameters are only used on startup? Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
  2025-12-23 00:29   ` Re: Which parameters are only used on startup? Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
@ 2025-12-23 00:50     ` Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 4+ messages in thread

From: Bruce Momjian @ 2025-12-23 00:50 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>; +Cc: colinthart@gmail.com; pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org

On Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 07:29:10PM -0500, Tom Lane wrote:
> Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us> writes:
> > On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 09:34:18AM +0000, PG Doc comments form wrote:
> >> Clarify that ssl_cert_file and ssl_key_file are only read on startup --
> >> implying that the params can be changed and the files moved to the new
> >> location/name without requiring a restart. Of course a restart is good to
> >> validate that the params and files are configured correctly.
> 
> > The docs say that you can only change this in postgresql.conf or on the
> > command line.  Changes to postgresql.conf requires pg_ctl reload or
> > something similar.
> 
> The actual problem with this change request is that it's wrong.
> We've supported changing ssl_cert_file --- either the GUC value
> or the file contents --- via "pg_ctl reload" or equivalent for
> years now (cf. commits de41869b6, 6667d9a6d).  So I don't see
> anything wrong with the docs text as it stands.

I had trouble parsing his text too but I think the original poster's
point was that changing these values don't affect a connected session.
When the original poster says restart, I think he/she means restart the
session, not the postmaster, but I am not 100% clear on that either.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        https://momjian.us
  EDB                                      https://enterprisedb.com

  Do not let urgent matters crowd out time for investment in the future.






^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread


end of thread, other threads:[~2025-12-23 00:50 UTC | newest]

Thread overview: 4+ messages (download: mbox.gz follow: Atom feed)
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2025-11-26 09:34 Which parameters are only used on startup? PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>
2025-12-23 00:14 ` Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
2025-12-23 00:29   ` Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
2025-12-23 00:50     ` Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>

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