Q: How to secure database passwords in Postgres Exporter?

Use file-based secrets by setting DATA_SOURCE_PASS_FILE instead of environment variables, and configure the exporter to run with limited privileges. The README recommends this to avoid exposing credentials in process listings or logs.

Q: What metrics does Postgres Exporter collect by default?

It collects metrics from enabled collectors like stat_database, stat_user_tables, and replication by default, covering database activity, table statistics, and replication status. You can disable collectors via flags to reduce overhead or focus on specific areas.

Question 1

How to run Postgres Exporter with Docker for local testing?

Accepted Answer

Use the Docker image prometheuscommunity/postgres-exporter with environment variables like DATA_SOURCE_URI and DATA_SOURCE_PASS, as shown in the quick start. Mount password files for better security, and expose port 9187 for metrics scraping.

Question 2

Postgres Exporter vs pg_stat_statements: which is better for query monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Postgres Exporter can include pg_stat_statements metrics if enabled via flags, providing integrated Prometheus exposure. However, pg_stat_statements is a PostgreSQL extension itself; the exporter adds convenience by bundling it with other metrics but requires proper setup and may have limits like query length defaults.

Question 3

How do I add custom metrics to Postgres Exporter?

Accepted Answer

Define custom SQL queries in a YAML file following the examples in queries.yaml and specify the path with --extend.query-path. Note that this feature is deprecated in favor of built-in collectors, so future versions might change or remove it.

Question 4

Does Postgres Exporter support PostgreSQL 12 or older databases?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it supports older versions, but for non-superuser operation on PostgreSQL <10, you must manually create security barrier functions and views, as detailed in the README. CI testing is done for versions 13+, so older versions might have untested edge cases.

Question 5

How to secure database passwords in Postgres Exporter?

Accepted Answer

Use file-based secrets by setting DATA_SOURCE_PASS_FILE instead of environment variables, and configure the exporter to run with limited privileges. The README recommends this to avoid exposing credentials in process listings or logs.

Question 6

What metrics does Postgres Exporter collect by default?

Accepted Answer

It collects metrics from enabled collectors like stat_database, stat_user_tables, and replication by default, covering database activity, table statistics, and replication status. You can disable collectors via flags to reduce overhead or focus on specific areas.

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