Thread: How to startup the database server?

On 12/19/2012 06:06 AM, Jason Ma wrote:
> Hi all,
>     I am a freshman of PostgreSQL, My env: PG 8.4 on CentOS,I follow the
> document in the offical site to startup the db server. Here's what I do
> below, the database cluster is ready, but I can't start the database server.
>
> [root@testbox ~]# service postgresql initdb
> Data directory is not empty!                               [FAILED]

Well this means there already something in the data directory, most
likely the result of a previous initdb.
Is that indeed the case?


>
> [root@testbox ~]# service postgresql start
> Starting postgresql service:                               [FAILED]
>
> -bash-4.1$ postgres -D /var/lib/pgsql/data
> -bash-4.1$ ps -ef |grep postgres
> root      2710  2585  0 21:52 pts/1    00:00:00 su - postgres
> postgres  2711  2710  0 21:52 pts/1    00:00:00 -bash
> postgres  2752  2711  0 21:55 pts/1    00:00:00 ps -ef
> postgres  2753  2711  0 21:55 pts/1    00:00:00 grep postgres
>
> -bash-4.1$ postgres -D /var/lib/pgsql/data > binlog 2>&1 &
> -bash-4.1$ ps -ef |grep postgres
> root      2710  2585  0 21:52 pts/1    00:00:00 su - postgres
> postgres  2711  2710  0 21:52 pts/1    00:00:00 -bash
> postgres  2768  2711  1 21:59 pts/1    00:00:00 ps -ef
> postgres  2769  2711  0 21:59 pts/1    00:00:00 grep postgres
>
> I wonder why I can't start the database? Do I have some place to see the
> log file. Hope anybody can help me. Thanks.

I do not use CentOS/RH so I am of limited use here. For some pointers see:

http://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/PostgreSQL_on_RedHat_Linux

 From there the log would seem to be in /var/lib/pgsql

> --
> Best wishes,
>
> Jason Ma


--
Adrian Klaver
adrian.klaver@gmail.com

On 12/19/2012 07:07 AM, Jason Ma wrote:
> Thanks, adrian,  but I have check the pgstartup.log, I got the following
> messages:
> .....
> creating information schema ... ok
> vacuuming database template1 ... ok
> copying template1 to template0 ... ok
> copying template1 to postgres ... ok
>
> Success. You can now start the database server using:
>
>      /usr/bin/postgres -D /var/lib/pgsql/data
> or
>      /usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /var/lib/pgsql/data -l logfile start
>
> runuser: cannot set groups: Operation not permitted

Seems the database cluster was initialized. Sort of concerned by the
runuser error. What user did you run the initdb as?

>
> I tried this:
>
> -bash-4.1$ /usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /var/lib/pgsql/data -l logfile start
> server starting

Nothing in the logfile?

> -bash-4.1$ ps -ef |grep postgres
> root      2904  2585  0 22:59 pts/1    00:00:00 su - postgres
> postgres  2905  2904  0 22:59 pts/1    00:00:00 -bash
> postgres  2946  2905  7 23:00 pts/1    00:00:00 ps -ef
> postgres  2947  2905  0 23:00 pts/1    00:00:00 grep postgres
>
> It reported that I have started the server but  that doesn't work, I
> think there must be somebody has the same problem with me. Any suggestions.

I am not seeing the server running in the above. You might want to retry
the ps with post as the grep expression.

>
> Regards,
> Jason
>


--
Adrian Klaver
adrian.klaver@gmail.com

Hi Jason,

sounds a bit weird. Can you check which user the database files belong
to? A 'ls -lah /var/lib/pgsql' should do the job. Then switch from root
user to the postgresql user and try to start the cluster manually with
the command line from below (put from your message):

/usr/bin/postgres -D /var/lib/pgsql/data

That sould start your instance in foreground so you should see any
errors and messages during startup.

One more thing: is SELinux enabled?

Hope that helps :-)
Jan


On 19.12.2012 16:34, Jason Ma wrote:
> Hi,
>    The ps output is after the server start, I don't know why I can't see
> any process after start the server. And of course I use root to initial
> db, 'cause we have to run this command in CentOS  which you need the
> privilege of root.
>
> service postgresql start
>
> Regards,
> Jason
>
>
> 2012/12/19 Adrian Klaver <adrian.klaver@gmail.com
> <mailto:adrian.klaver@gmail.com>>
>
>     On 12/19/2012 07:07 AM, Jason Ma wrote:
>
>         Thanks, adrian,  but I have check the pgstartup.log, I got the
>         following
>         messages:
>         .....
>         creating information schema ... ok
>         vacuuming database template1 ... ok
>         copying template1 to template0 ... ok
>         copying template1 to postgres ... ok
>
>         Success. You can now start the database server using:
>
>              /usr/bin/postgres -D /var/lib/pgsql/data
>         or
>              /usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /var/lib/pgsql/data -l logfile start
>
>         runuser: cannot set groups: Operation not permitted
>
>
>     Seems the database cluster was initialized. Sort of concerned by the
>     runuser error. What user did you run the initdb as?
>
>
>
>         I tried this:
>
>         -bash-4.1$ /usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /var/lib/pgsql/data -l logfile start
>         server starting
>
>
>     Nothing in the logfile?
>
>
>         -bash-4.1$ ps -ef |grep postgres
>         root      2904  2585  0 22:59 pts/1    00:00:00 su - postgres
>         postgres  2905  2904  0 22:59 pts/1    00:00:00 -bash
>         postgres  2946  2905  7 23:00 pts/1    00:00:00 ps -ef
>         postgres  2947  2905  0 23:00 pts/1    00:00:00 grep postgres
>
>         It reported that I have started the server but  that doesn't work, I
>         think there must be somebody has the same problem with me. Any
>         suggestions.
>
>
>     I am not seeing the server running in the above. You might want to
>     retry the ps with post as the grep expression.
>
>
>         Regards,
>         Jason
>
>
>
>     --
>     Adrian Klaver
>     adrian.klaver@gmail.com <mailto:adrian.klaver@gmail.com>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Best wishes,
>
> Jason Ma