tuning Postgres for large data import (using Copy from)

Hello,


I'd like to tune Postgres for large data import (using Copy from).


here are a few steps already done:



1) use 3 different disks for:

	-1: source data
	-2: index tablespaces
	-3: data tablespaces
	
	
2) define all foreign keys as initially deferred


3) tune some parameters:



	max_connections =20
	shared_buffers =30000    
	work_mem = 8192      
	maintenance_work_mem = 32768    
	checkpoint_segments = 12

	(I also modified the kernel accordingly)




4) runs VACUUM regulary


The server runs RedHat and has 1GB RAM

In the production (which may run on a better server), I plan to: 

- import a few millions rows per day,
- keep up to ca 100 millions rows in the db
- delete older data




I've seen a few posting on hash/btree indexes, which say that hash index do
not work very well in Postgres;
currently, I only use btree indexes. Could I gain performances whole using
hash indexes as well ?

How does Postgres handle concurrent copy from on: same table / different
tables ?


I'd be glad on any further suggestion on how to further increase my
performances.




Marc




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