[PERFORM] linux - server configuration for small database

Hi I'm going to install a new server and I'm looking for some advice about how I can help my database performing at its best. I'll be using a redhat ES 4 on a dual core opteron with 2 SCSI 10.000rpm disks in RAID1. The first question I have is, since I'd strongly prefer to use postgresql 8.1 or

[PERFORM] problem with wrong query planning and ineffective statistics

I think I have an issue with the planning of this query that sometimes runs really slow. this is the output of the EXPLAIN ANALYZE in the SLOW case Sort (cost=4105.54..4105.54 rows=2 width=28) (actual time=11404.225..11404.401 rows=265 loops=1) Sort Key: table1.fdeventfromdate, table2.fdsurna