PostgreSQL

CLUSTER operation blocks all reads during reordering

critical
availabilityUpdated Mar 4, 2026
Technologies:
How to detect:

The CLUSTER command takes exclusive locks that block even read queries while physically reordering table data.

Recommended action:

Use pg_repack or pg_squeeze extensions instead of CLUSTER for production systems, as they provide equivalent reordering functionality with uptime-friendly locking that doesn't block reads.