diff --git a/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c b/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
index cf401d3cf03ecbb30987151ae0e8784e14033a12..2499bee7399c50dc7c5d129bd10258e84b7a97b7 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
@@ -97,20 +97,6 @@
 #define CONFIG_EXEC_PARAMS_NEW "global/config_exec_params.new"
 #endif
 
-#define KB_PER_MB (1024)
-#define KB_PER_GB (1024*1024)
-#define KB_PER_TB (1024*1024*1024)
-
-#define MS_PER_S 1000
-#define S_PER_MIN 60
-#define MS_PER_MIN (1000 * 60)
-#define MIN_PER_H 60
-#define S_PER_H (60 * 60)
-#define MS_PER_H (1000 * 60 * 60)
-#define MIN_PER_D (60 * 24)
-#define S_PER_D (60 * 60 * 24)
-#define MS_PER_D (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)
-
 /*
  * Precision with which REAL type guc values are to be printed for GUC
  * serialization.
@@ -666,6 +652,88 @@ const char *const config_type_names[] =
 	 /* PGC_ENUM */ "enum"
 };
 
+/*
+ * Unit conversion tables.
+ *
+ * There are two tables, one for memory units, and another for time units.
+ * For each supported conversion from one unit to another, we have an entry
+ * in the table.
+ *
+ * To keep things simple, and to avoid intermediate-value overflows,
+ * conversions are never chained.  There needs to be a direct conversion
+ * between all units (of the same type).
+ *
+ * The conversions from each base unit must be kept in order from greatest
+ * to smallest unit; convert_from_base_unit() relies on that.  (The order of
+ * the base units does not matter.)
+ */
+#define MAX_UNIT_LEN		3	/* length of longest recognized unit string */
+
+typedef struct
+{
+	char	unit[MAX_UNIT_LEN + 1];	/* unit, as a string, like "kB" or "min" */
+	int		base_unit;		/* GUC_UNIT_XXX */
+	int		multiplier;		/* If positive, multiply the value with this for
+							 * unit -> base_unit conversion.  If negative,
+							 * divide (with the absolute value) */
+} unit_conversion;
+
+/* Ensure that the constants in the tables don't overflow or underflow */
+#if BLCKSZ < 1024 || BLCKSZ > (1024*1024)
+#error BLCKSZ must be between 1KB and 1MB
+#endif
+#if XLOG_BLCKSZ < 1024 || XLOG_BLCKSZ > (1024*1024)
+#error XLOG_BLCKSZ must be between 1KB and 1MB
+#endif
+
+static const char *memory_units_hint =
+	gettext_noop("Valid units for this parameter are \"kB\", \"MB\", \"GB\", and \"TB\".");
+
+static const unit_conversion memory_unit_conversion_table[] =
+{
+	{ "TB",		GUC_UNIT_KB,	 	1024*1024*1024 },
+	{ "GB",		GUC_UNIT_KB,	 	1024*1024 },
+	{ "MB",		GUC_UNIT_KB,	 	1024 },
+	{ "kB",		GUC_UNIT_KB,	 	1 },
+
+	{ "TB",		GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS,	(1024*1024*1024) / (BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+	{ "GB",		GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS,	(1024*1024) / (BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+	{ "MB",		GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS,	1024 / (BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+	{ "kB",		GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS,	-(BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+
+	{ "TB",		GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS,	(1024*1024*1024) / (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+	{ "GB",		GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS,	(1024*1024) / (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+	{ "MB",		GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS,	1024 / (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+	{ "kB",		GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS,	-(XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024) },
+
+	{ "" }		/* end of table marker */
+};
+
+static const char *time_units_hint =
+	gettext_noop("Valid units for this parameter are \"ms\", \"s\", \"min\", \"h\", and \"d\".");
+
+static const unit_conversion time_unit_conversion_table[] =
+{
+	{ "d",		GUC_UNIT_MS,	1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 },
+	{ "h",		GUC_UNIT_MS,	1000 * 60 * 60 },
+	{ "min", 	GUC_UNIT_MS,	1000 * 60},
+	{ "s",		GUC_UNIT_MS,	1000 },
+	{ "ms",		GUC_UNIT_MS,	1 },
+
+	{ "d",		GUC_UNIT_S,		60 * 60 * 24 },
+	{ "h",		GUC_UNIT_S,		60 * 60 },
+	{ "min", 	GUC_UNIT_S,		60 },
+	{ "s",		GUC_UNIT_S,		1 },
+	{ "ms", 	GUC_UNIT_S,	 	-1000 },
+
+	{ "d", 		GUC_UNIT_MIN,	60 * 24 },
+	{ "h", 		GUC_UNIT_MIN,	60 },
+	{ "min", 	GUC_UNIT_MIN,	1 },
+	{ "s", 		GUC_UNIT_MIN,	-60 },
+	{ "ms", 	GUC_UNIT_MIN,	-1000 * 60 },
+
+	{ "" }		/* end of table marker */
+};
 
 /*
  * Contents of GUC tables
@@ -5029,6 +5097,88 @@ ReportGUCOption(struct config_generic * record)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Convert a value from one of the human-friendly units ("kB", "min" etc.)
+ * to the given base unit.  'value' and 'unit' are the input value and unit
+ * to convert from.  The converted value is stored in *base_value.
+ *
+ * Returns true on success, false if the input unit is not recognized.
+ */
+static bool
+convert_to_base_unit(int64 value, const char *unit,
+					 int base_unit, int64 *base_value)
+{
+	const unit_conversion *table;
+	int 		i;
+
+	if (base_unit & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
+		table = memory_unit_conversion_table;
+	else
+		table = time_unit_conversion_table;
+
+	for (i = 0; *table[i].unit; i++)
+	{
+		if (base_unit == table[i].base_unit &&
+			strcmp(unit, table[i].unit) == 0)
+		{
+			if (table[i].multiplier < 0)
+				*base_value = value / (-table[i].multiplier);
+			else
+				*base_value = value * table[i].multiplier;
+			return true;
+		}
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Convert a value in some base unit to a human-friendly unit.  The output
+ * unit is chosen so that it's the greatest unit that can represent the value
+ * without loss.  For example, if the base unit is GUC_UNIT_KB, 1024 is
+ * converted to 1 MB, but 1025 is represented as 1025 kB.
+ */
+static void
+convert_from_base_unit(int64 base_value, int base_unit,
+					   int64 *value, const char **unit)
+{
+	const unit_conversion *table;
+	int			i;
+
+	*unit = NULL;
+
+	if (base_unit & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
+		table = memory_unit_conversion_table;
+	else
+		table = time_unit_conversion_table;
+
+	for (i = 0; *table[i].unit; i++)
+	{
+		if (base_unit == table[i].base_unit)
+		{
+			/*
+			 * Accept the first conversion that divides the value evenly.
+			 * We assume that the conversions for each base unit are ordered
+			 * from greatest unit to the smallest!
+			 */
+			if (table[i].multiplier < 0)
+			{
+				*value = base_value * (-table[i].multiplier);
+				*unit = table[i].unit;
+				break;
+			}
+			else if (base_value % table[i].multiplier == 0)
+			{
+				*value = base_value / table[i].multiplier;
+				*unit = table[i].unit;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	Assert(*unit != NULL);
+}
+
+
 /*
  * Try to parse value as an integer.  The accepted formats are the
  * usual decimal, octal, or hexadecimal formats, optionally followed by
@@ -5072,171 +5222,38 @@ parse_int(const char *value, int *result, int flags, const char **hintmsg)
 	/* Handle possible unit */
 	if (*endptr != '\0')
 	{
-		/*
-		 * Note: the multiple-switch coding technique here is a bit tedious,
-		 * but seems necessary to avoid intermediate-value overflows.
-		 */
-		if (flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
-		{
-			/* Set hint for use if no match or trailing garbage */
-			if (hintmsg)
-				*hintmsg = gettext_noop("Valid units for this parameter are \"kB\", \"MB\", \"GB\", and \"TB\".");
+		char		unit[MAX_UNIT_LEN + 1];
+		int			unitlen;
+		bool		converted = false;
 
-#if BLCKSZ < 1024 || BLCKSZ > (1024*1024)
-#error BLCKSZ must be between 1KB and 1MB
-#endif
-#if XLOG_BLCKSZ < 1024 || XLOG_BLCKSZ > (1024*1024)
-#error XLOG_BLCKSZ must be between 1KB and 1MB
-#endif
+		if ((flags & GUC_UNIT) == 0)
+			return false;	/* this setting does not accept a unit */
 
-			if (strncmp(endptr, "kB", 2) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 2;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS:
-						val /= (BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS:
-						val /= (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "MB", 2) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 2;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_KB:
-						val *= KB_PER_MB;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS:
-						val *= KB_PER_MB / (BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS:
-						val *= KB_PER_MB / (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "GB", 2) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 2;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_KB:
-						val *= KB_PER_GB;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS:
-						val *= KB_PER_GB / (BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS:
-						val *= KB_PER_GB / (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "TB", 2) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 2;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_KB:
-						val *= KB_PER_TB;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS:
-						val *= KB_PER_TB / (BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS:
-						val *= KB_PER_TB / (XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024);
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		else if (flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
+		unitlen = 0;
+		while (*endptr != '\0' && !isspace((unsigned char) *endptr) &&
+			   unitlen < MAX_UNIT_LEN)
+			unit[unitlen++] = *(endptr++);
+		unit[unitlen] = '\0';
+		/* allow whitespace after unit */
+		while (isspace((unsigned char) *endptr))
+			endptr++;
+
+		if (*endptr == '\0')
+			converted = convert_to_base_unit(val, unit, (flags & GUC_UNIT),
+											 &val);
+		if (!converted)
 		{
-			/* Set hint for use if no match or trailing garbage */
+			/* invalid unit, or garbage after the unit; set hint and fail. */
 			if (hintmsg)
-				*hintmsg = gettext_noop("Valid units for this parameter are \"ms\", \"s\", \"min\", \"h\", and \"d\".");
-
-			if (strncmp(endptr, "ms", 2) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 2;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_S:
-						val /= MS_PER_S;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_MIN:
-						val /= MS_PER_MIN;
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "s", 1) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 1;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_MS:
-						val *= MS_PER_S;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_MIN:
-						val /= S_PER_MIN;
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "min", 3) == 0)
 			{
-				endptr += 3;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_MS:
-						val *= MS_PER_MIN;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_S:
-						val *= S_PER_MIN;
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "h", 1) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 1;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_MS:
-						val *= MS_PER_H;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_S:
-						val *= S_PER_H;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_MIN:
-						val *= MIN_PER_H;
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if (strncmp(endptr, "d", 1) == 0)
-			{
-				endptr += 1;
-				switch (flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
-				{
-					case GUC_UNIT_MS:
-						val *= MS_PER_D;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_S:
-						val *= S_PER_D;
-						break;
-					case GUC_UNIT_MIN:
-						val *= MIN_PER_D;
-						break;
-				}
+				if (flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
+					*hintmsg = memory_units_hint;
+				else
+					*hintmsg = time_units_hint;
 			}
+			return false;
 		}
 
-		/* allow whitespace after unit */
-		while (isspace((unsigned char) *endptr))
-			endptr++;
-
-		if (*endptr != '\0')
-			return false;		/* appropriate hint, if any, already set */
-
 		/* Check for overflow due to units conversion */
 		if (val != (int64) ((int32) val))
 		{
@@ -8108,76 +8125,10 @@ _ShowOption(struct config_generic * record, bool use_units)
 					int64		result = *conf->variable;
 					const char *unit;
 
-					if (use_units && result > 0 &&
-						(record->flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY))
-					{
-						switch (record->flags & GUC_UNIT_MEMORY)
-						{
-							case GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS:
-								result *= BLCKSZ / 1024;
-								break;
-							case GUC_UNIT_XBLOCKS:
-								result *= XLOG_BLCKSZ / 1024;
-								break;
-						}
-
-						if (result % KB_PER_TB == 0)
-						{
-							result /= KB_PER_TB;
-							unit = "TB";
-						}
-						else if (result % KB_PER_GB == 0)
-						{
-							result /= KB_PER_GB;
-							unit = "GB";
-						}
-						else if (result % KB_PER_MB == 0)
-						{
-							result /= KB_PER_MB;
-							unit = "MB";
-						}
-						else
-						{
-							unit = "kB";
-						}
-					}
-					else if (use_units && result > 0 &&
-							 (record->flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME))
+					if (use_units && result > 0 && (record->flags & GUC_UNIT))
 					{
-						switch (record->flags & GUC_UNIT_TIME)
-						{
-							case GUC_UNIT_S:
-								result *= MS_PER_S;
-								break;
-							case GUC_UNIT_MIN:
-								result *= MS_PER_MIN;
-								break;
-						}
-
-						if (result % MS_PER_D == 0)
-						{
-							result /= MS_PER_D;
-							unit = "d";
-						}
-						else if (result % MS_PER_H == 0)
-						{
-							result /= MS_PER_H;
-							unit = "h";
-						}
-						else if (result % MS_PER_MIN == 0)
-						{
-							result /= MS_PER_MIN;
-							unit = "min";
-						}
-						else if (result % MS_PER_S == 0)
-						{
-							result /= MS_PER_S;
-							unit = "s";
-						}
-						else
-						{
-							unit = "ms";
-						}
+						convert_from_base_unit(result, record->flags & GUC_UNIT,
+											   &result, &unit);
 					}
 					else
 						unit = "";
diff --git a/src/include/utils/guc.h b/src/include/utils/guc.h
index 717f46b2a9444ab2e4d594d99a312e60fc15bfda..9a9a7a021a89082dfa723e96afcbaa1379173dd1 100644
--- a/src/include/utils/guc.h
+++ b/src/include/utils/guc.h
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ typedef enum
 #define GUC_UNIT_MIN			0x4000	/* value is in minutes */
 #define GUC_UNIT_TIME			0x7000	/* mask for MS, S, MIN */
 
+#define GUC_UNIT				(GUC_UNIT_MEMORY | GUC_UNIT_TIME)
+
 #define GUC_NOT_WHILE_SEC_REST	0x8000	/* can't set if security restricted */
 #define GUC_DISALLOW_IN_AUTO_FILE	0x00010000	/* can't set in
 												 * PG_AUTOCONF_FILENAME */