max_fsm_pages

PG DB: 8.1.3

12 DB in the cluster

 

When I do a full vacuum of the database cluster, at the end I am getting the message as follows:

 

psql:dba_task.sql:1: INFO:  free space map contains 8033993 pages in 1023 relations
DETAIL:  A total of 8000000 page slots are in use (including overhead).
8201952 page slots are required to track all free space.
Current limits are:  8000000 page slots, 32768 relations, using 49054 KB.
psql:dba_task.sql:1: NOTICE:  number of page slots needed (8201952) exceeds max_fsm_pages (8000000)
HINT:  Consider increasing the configuration parameter "max_fsm_pages" to a value over 8201952.

 

My questions are:

 

1. With out increasing the max_fsm_pages, can I bring down the need for fsm_pages by deleting unnecessary tables?

2. As, the database grows the need for max_fsm_pages grows too, what is the best practice?

3. As a new postgres DBA, how should one manage this parameter?

 

Thanks

Abu Mushayeed