Installing PostgreSQL

1. Add the following lines to your shell startup file. To find out which shell you are using, type

   % echo $SHELL

   and the name of the shell will appear.

   1. If you are using /bin/csh or one of its variants, then add the following lines to the ~/.cshrc file on your Virtual Server:

      setenv PGDATA /usr/local/pgsql/data
      setenv PGLIB /usr/local/pgsql/lib
      setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH /usr/local/pgsql/lib
      set path = (/usr/local/pgsql/bin $path)
      

   2. If you are using the Bourne shell (/bin/sh or /bin/bash) then add the following lines to the ~/.profile file on your Virtual Server:

      PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/pgsql/bin
      PGDATA=/usr/local/pgsql/data
      PGLIB=/usr/local/pgsql/lib
      LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/pgsql/lib
      export PGDATA PGLIB LD_LIBRARY_PATH
      

2. Run the PostgreSQL installation script that matches your Virtual Server O/S:

   FreeBSD 6.5.3 % vinstall pgsql

   BSD/OS % installpgsql

   NOTE: If your Virtual Server was ordered after Nov 22, 1999, you are likely running FreeBSD. To find out which O/S your Virtual Server is running, use the uname command: % uname If your Virtual Server is not already running FreeBSD, Upgrade to a New FreeBSD Virtual Server today!

   These installation scripts install all the necessary PostgreSQL files and initialize a database with the same name as your user name. They also start the postmaster daemon running.

3. The main tool for using PostgreSQL is the psql client server. To start it type:

   FreeBSD % virtual psql

   BSD/OS % psql

   The psql client server will start up and you will be able to type in SQL code and ask for help.

   If you get the following error:

   Connection to database '(null)' failed.
   FATAL: PQsetdb: Unable to determine a Postgres username!
   

   all you need to do is type:

   % vpwd_mkdb ~/etc/passwd

   This program will read your password file at ~/etc/passwd and create a Berkeley DB format file. PostgreSQL uses this new file to look up user names and account information.

Uninstalling PostgreSQL

% cd ~/usr/local
% chmod -R u+w pgsql
% rm -rf pgsql

Next, edit your ~/etc/rc file and remove the line that contains postgresql. Then run the ps command, like this:

% ps -x

Locate the process ID of the PostgreSQL daemon and use kill to stop the PostgreSQL daemon:

% kill process_ID