Error 53100 means PostgreSQL cannot extend a file because the disk or partition holding the data directory is full.
PostgreSQL Error 53100 (disk_full) appears when the server cannot write more data because the storage volume is out of space. Free disk capacity, move the data directory to a larger partition, or remove bloat to resolve the issue.
PostgreSQL Error 53100
The server raised a disk_full condition because it tried to grow a table, index, WAL segment, or temporary file and the operating system returned "No space left on device". PostgreSQL immediately aborts the current transaction to protect data integrity.
The error can appear during INSERT, UPDATE, CREATE INDEX, autovacuum, or large sorts.
It blocks every session that needs to write, so production workloads stall until capacity is restored.
Most cases trace back to the data or WAL directory sitting on a nearly full partition. Long-running transactions, unarchived WAL files, or giant temp files from hash joins can eat space quickly. Replica slots and bloated tables also contribute.
Containerized deployments often forget to size the persistent volume correctly.
On-prem servers may hit quota limits or fill up with log files outside PostgreSQL’s control.
First, stop space growth with pg_terminate_backend on runaway queries. Next, free capacity by archiving or deleting old WAL files, dropping temp files, or truncating unused tables. If space is critical, move the data directory to a larger disk and update data_directory in postgresql.conf.
After freeing room, run CHECKPOINT to flush buffers and let normal writes resume.
Monitor df -h and pg_stat_bgwriter to confirm the error clears.
WAL flood: a stalled archive_command leaves dozens of 16 MB segments. Restart archiving or manually copy files, then run SELECT pg_switch_wal(); to cycle segments.
Temp file bloat: complex sorts generate multi-GB files in pgsql_tmp. Tune work_mem and enable incremental sort, or redesign the query.
Replica slot leak: physical slots on a replica that is down prevent WAL recycling.
DROP the unused slot with SELECT pg_drop_replication_slot('slot_name');
Provision at least 2× expected database size plus 20 %. Separate WAL, data, and temp directories onto different volumes. Enable monitoring for df, pg_database_size, and pg_ls_waldir(). Alert at 80 % usage.
Regularly run VACUUM and partition large tables. Automate WAL archiving and test failover to make sure segments rotate. Review Galaxy query plans to reduce temp-file output.
Error 53200 (out_of_memory) surfaces when PostgreSQL exhausts RAM instead of disk.
Optimize work_mem and shared_buffers.
Error 58P01 (cannot_open_file) may follow disk_full if files vanish. Check file permissions and fsync settings.
Error 53300 (too_many_connections) can occur simultaneously when sessions pile up waiting for disk; raise max_connections only after fixing storage.
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Regular VACUUM marks dead tuples for reuse but only VACUUM FULL or pg_repack physically shrinks relation files to release space to the OS.
Never delete pg_wal files manually while PostgreSQL is running; use archive_command, pg_switch_wal, or drop replication slots to reclaim space safely.
Galaxy’s editor surfaces query plans and temp-file usage, letting engineers spot high-spill operations early. Shared collections promote optimized, endorsed queries that minimize disk bloat.
Yes. Higher work_mem can produce larger temp files if a query still spills. Monitor pg_stat_database.temp_bytes after tuning.
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