Re: [bug fix] postgres.exe fails to start on Windows Server 2012 due to ASLR

On 01/30/2014 08:14 PM, MauMau wrote:
>> Does this issue also occur on 9.3.2, or in 9.4 HEAD, when tested on
>> Win2k12?
>
> I'm sure it should. The release note doesn't have any reference to this
> issue. Another user who reported this issue in pgsql-general
> experienced this with 9.2.4.

> In addition, Another customer reported to me that psql failed to connect
> to PostgreSQL 9.1.9 running on Windows Server 2012 R2, about once out of
> 7 times. I believe this needs immediate fix.

I'm reasonably persuaded that there's a need for this, though IFEO (see
below) can be used at or after install-time as a workaround.

It looks like your patch sets the msbuild equivalent of the
/DYNAMICBASE:NO flag
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb384887.aspx). Is this known
to work (or be silently ignored) back to Windows SDK 7.1? (I'll test it
today and see).

I don't think we need to worry about Force ASLR
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2639308) as it seems it only applies
when an application loads modules, unless an admin goes playing in the
registry.

Users facing this problem can work around it without code changes by
setting IFEO in the registry to disable ASLR for postgres.exe. See:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff190925(v=vs.85).aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2639308

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb430720.aspx

It may be reasonable for EDB to consider releasing updated installers
that set IFEO flags to disable ASLR on postgres.exe .

--
Craig Ringer http://www.2ndQuadrant.com/
PostgreSQL Development, 24x7 Support, Training & Services