Don Parris <parrisdc@gmail.com> writes:
> When I try a simple psql -U postgres -W - just to initiate the psql
> session, I get:
> psql: FATAL: Peer authentication failed for user "postgres"
> It's like my regular user cannot connect as the postgres user.
You're right, it can't, if you've selected peer authentication in
pg_hba.conf. You'd need to use some other auth method, perhaps
password-based auth, if you want this to work. Read up on auth methods
in the fine manual.
> However, this works (with me just typing my password for sudo):
> donp@wiesbaden:~$ sudo -u postgres psql -U postgres
> [sudo] password for donp:
Sure, because then psql is launched as the postgres OS user, and peer auth
will let that user connect as the postgres DB user.
regards, tom lane
