Troubleshooting Guide: Vector Storage Problems in R2R
Vector storage is a crucial component in R2R (RAG to Riches) for efficient similarity searches. This guide focuses on troubleshooting common vector storage issues, particularly with Postgres and pgvector.1. Connection Issues
Symptom: R2R can’t connect to the vector database
-
Check Postgres Connection:
If this fails, the issue might be with Postgres itself, not specifically vector storage.
-
Verify Environment Variables:
Ensure these are correctly set in your R2R configuration:
POSTGRES_USER
POSTGRES_PASSWORD
POSTGRES_HOST
POSTGRES_PORT
POSTGRES_DBNAME
R2R_PROJECT_NAME
-
Check Docker Network:
If using Docker, ensure the R2R and Postgres containers are on the same network:
2. pgvector Extension Issues
Symptom: “extension pgvector does not exist” error
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Check if pgvector is Installed:
Connect to your database and run:
-
Install pgvector:
If not installed, run:
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Verify Postgres Version:
pgvector requires Postgres 11 or later. Check your version:
3. Vector Dimension Mismatch
Symptom: Error inserting vectors or during similarity search
-
Check Vector Dimensions:
Verify the dimension of vectors you’re trying to insert matches your schema:
- Verify R2R Configuration: Ensure the vector dimension in your R2R configuration matches your database schema.
-
Recreate Table with Correct Dimensions:
If dimensions are mismatched, you may need to recreate the table:
4. Performance Issues
Symptom: Slow similarity searches
-
Check Index:
Ensure you have an appropriate index:
-
Analyze Table:
Run ANALYZE to update statistics:
-
Monitor Query Performance:
Use
EXPLAIN ANALYZE
to check query execution plans: -
Adjust Work Memory:
If dealing with large vectors, increase work_mem:
5. Data Integrity Issues
Symptom: Unexpected search results or missing data
- Check Vector Normalization: Ensure vectors are normalized before insertion if using cosine similarity.
-
Verify Data Insertion:
Check if data is being correctly inserted:
-
Inspect Random Samples:
Look at some random entries to ensure data quality:
6. Disk Space Issues
Symptom: Insertion failures or database unresponsiveness
-
Check Disk Space:
-
Monitor Postgres Disk Usage:
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Identify Large Tables:
7. Backup and Recovery
If all else fails, you may need to restore from a backup:-
Create a Backup:
-
Restore from Backup:
Getting Further Help
If these steps don’t resolve your issue:- Check R2R logs for more detailed error messages.
- Consult the pgvector documentation for advanced troubleshooting.
- Reach out to the R2R community or support channels with detailed information about your setup and the steps you’ve tried.