Thread: User Problem In PostgreSQL on Mac OS X
This will likely sound stupid, but I installed PostgreSQL on my Mac a few weeks ago and got diverted. I tried to return to it and discovered that I had created a user called "postgre", which is the primary user. The user appears in the user list in the System Requirements panel but can't be edited, at least not by me. Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. Do I need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to do this? Or can I somehow retrieve the password for user postgre? Any help would be appreciated. Robert Prather
> Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I > installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. Do I > need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to do > this? OS X is Unix (or Unix-like), right? The classic way around this is sign on as root and then use passwd to change the password for user postgres. I've forgotten the postgres user password myself as have probably half the people on this list! brew
If you're using vanilla OS X, you probably have not enabled the root user -- which is Mac OS X default behavior for a reason. Rather than launching a giant project to find out how to enable root, just use Terminal and enter "sudo su". You will get the usual sudoers lecture (engrave it on your soul, even if you have only one user), and you will find yourself staring at the root prompt. God help you. This trick is slightly less omnipotent than actually logging in as root, but the difference between disaster and catastrophe is not worth mentioning. Be sure to enter "exit" after you have accomplished the precisely exact one single thing you needed to masquerade as root for. D On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 02:39 PM, brew@theMode.com wrote: > >> Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I >> installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. Do I >> need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to do >> this? > > OS X is Unix (or Unix-like), right? The classic way around this is > sign > on as root and then use passwd to change the password for user > postgres. > > I've forgotten the postgres user password myself as have probably half > the > people on this list! > > brew > > > > ---------------------------(end of > broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? > > http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html > > -- David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. Einstein
Actually, mine is called postgre without the 's'. Does he have to have a directory under users? On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 05:34 PM, David C. Oshel wrote: > yup ... try "su - postgres" with an ess > > there's no /Users/postgre, but there's a /Users/postgres > > > On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 04:32 PM, Robert Prather wrote: > >> Well, I said you'd be hearing from me again. From a command prompt I >> type "su - postgre" and enter the password. It says "su: no >> directory" and doesn't let me change users. Any idea which directory >> it's looking for? >> >> Robert >> >> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 03:54 PM, David C.Oshel wrote: >> >>> If you're using vanilla OS X, you probably have not enabled the root >>> user -- which is Mac OS X default behavior for a reason. >>> >>> Rather than launching a giant project to find out how to enable >>> root, just use Terminal and enter "sudo su". You will get the usual >>> sudoers lecture (engrave it on your soul, even if you have only one >>> user), and you will find yourself staring at the root prompt. God >>> help you. >>> >>> This trick is slightly less omnipotent than actually logging in as >>> root, but the difference between disaster and catastrophe is not >>> worth mentioning. >>> >>> Be sure to enter "exit" after you have accomplished the precisely >>> exact one single thing you needed to masquerade as root for. >>> >>> D >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 02:39 PM, brew@theMode.com wrote: >>> >>>> >>>>> Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I >>>>> installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. Do I >>>>> need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to do >>>>> this? >>>> >>>> OS X is Unix (or Unix-like), right? The classic way around this is >>>> sign >>>> on as root and then use passwd to change the password for user >>>> postgres. >>>> >>>> I've forgotten the postgres user password myself as have probably >>>> half the >>>> people on this list! >>>> >>>> brew >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? >>>> >>>> http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >>> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >>> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >>> Einstein >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------(end of >>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster >>> >>> >> >> Robert Prather >> 8476873608@mobile.att.net >> >> >> > -- > David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net > Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel > ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. Einstein > > Robert Prather 8476873608@mobile.att.net
hmmm... If you installed the package from Marc Liyanage's PostgreSQL page, it creates the necessary overhead elements. Probably got it from fink, right? I'm not sure what fink does, aside from putting stuff in it's private /sw directory tree. On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 07:23 PM, Robert Prather wrote: > Actually, mine is called postgre without the 's'. Does he have to > have a directory under users? > > On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 05:34 PM, David C. Oshel wrote: > >> yup ... try "su - postgres" with an ess >> >> there's no /Users/postgre, but there's a /Users/postgres >> >> >> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 04:32 PM, Robert Prather wrote: >> >>> Well, I said you'd be hearing from me again. From a command prompt >>> I type "su - postgre" and enter the password. It says "su: no >>> directory" and doesn't let me change users. Any idea which >>> directory it's looking for? >>> >>> Robert >>> >>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 03:54 PM, David C.Oshel wrote: >>> >>>> If you're using vanilla OS X, you probably have not enabled the >>>> root user -- which is Mac OS X default behavior for a reason. >>>> >>>> Rather than launching a giant project to find out how to enable >>>> root, just use Terminal and enter "sudo su". You will get the >>>> usual sudoers lecture (engrave it on your soul, even if you have >>>> only one user), and you will find yourself staring at the root >>>> prompt. God help you. >>>> >>>> This trick is slightly less omnipotent than actually logging in as >>>> root, but the difference between disaster and catastrophe is not >>>> worth mentioning. >>>> >>>> Be sure to enter "exit" after you have accomplished the precisely >>>> exact one single thing you needed to masquerade as root for. >>>> >>>> D >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 02:39 PM, brew@theMode.com wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I >>>>>> installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. Do >>>>>> I >>>>>> need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to do >>>>>> this? >>>>> >>>>> OS X is Unix (or Unix-like), right? The classic way around this >>>>> is sign >>>>> on as root and then use passwd to change the password for user >>>>> postgres. >>>>> >>>>> I've forgotten the postgres user password myself as have probably >>>>> half the >>>>> people on this list! >>>>> >>>>> brew >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>>> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? >>>>> >>>>> http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html >>>>> >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >>>> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >>>> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >>>> Einstein >>>> >>>> >>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster >>>> >>>> >>> >>> Robert Prather >>> 8476873608@mobile.att.net >>> >>> >>> >> -- >> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >> Einstein >> >> > > Robert Prather > 8476873608@mobile.att.net > > > ---------------------------(end of > broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster > > -- David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. Einstein
David, I went ahead and deleted everything related to my prior PostgreSQL installations and started fresh with Liyanage's package. Followed the instructions and it worked like a dream. Thanks for pointing that out. Now I can worry about learning the database instead of how to install it. Robert On Monday, February 24, 2003, at 09:39 AM, David C. Oshel wrote: > hmmm... If you installed the package from Marc Liyanage's PostgreSQL > page, it creates the necessary overhead elements. Probably got it > from fink, right? I'm not sure what fink does, aside from putting > stuff in it's private /sw directory tree. > > On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 07:23 PM, Robert Prather wrote: > >> Actually, mine is called postgre without the 's'. Does he have to >> have a directory under users? >> >> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 05:34 PM, David C. Oshel wrote: >> >>> yup ... try "su - postgres" with an ess >>> >>> there's no /Users/postgre, but there's a /Users/postgres >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 04:32 PM, Robert Prather wrote: >>> >>>> Well, I said you'd be hearing from me again. From a command prompt >>>> I type "su - postgre" and enter the password. It says "su: no >>>> directory" and doesn't let me change users. Any idea which >>>> directory it's looking for? >>>> >>>> Robert >>>> >>>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 03:54 PM, David C.Oshel wrote: >>>> >>>>> If you're using vanilla OS X, you probably have not enabled the >>>>> root user -- which is Mac OS X default behavior for a reason. >>>>> >>>>> Rather than launching a giant project to find out how to enable >>>>> root, just use Terminal and enter "sudo su". You will get the >>>>> usual sudoers lecture (engrave it on your soul, even if you have >>>>> only one user), and you will find yourself staring at the root >>>>> prompt. God help you. >>>>> >>>>> This trick is slightly less omnipotent than actually logging in as >>>>> root, but the difference between disaster and catastrophe is not >>>>> worth mentioning. >>>>> >>>>> Be sure to enter "exit" after you have accomplished the precisely >>>>> exact one single thing you needed to masquerade as root for. >>>>> >>>>> D >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 02:39 PM, brew@theMode.com wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I >>>>>>> installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. >>>>>>> Do I >>>>>>> need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to >>>>>>> do >>>>>>> this? >>>>>> >>>>>> OS X is Unix (or Unix-like), right? The classic way around this >>>>>> is sign >>>>>> on as root and then use passwd to change the password for user >>>>>> postgres. >>>>>> >>>>>> I've forgotten the postgres user password myself as have probably >>>>>> half the >>>>>> people on this list! >>>>>> >>>>>> brew >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>>>> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >>>>> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >>>>> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >>>>> Einstein >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>>> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> Robert Prather >>>> 8476873608@mobile.att.net >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >>> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >>> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >>> Einstein >>> >>> >> >> Robert Prather >> 8476873608@mobile.att.net >> >> >> ---------------------------(end of >> broadcast)--------------------------- >> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster >> >> > -- > David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net > Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel > ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. Einstein > > Robert Prather 8476873608@mobile.att.net
Did you install this from the apple web site? http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/unix_open_source/postgresql.html I notice that sets up a user 'postgre' If so maybe take a look at the Server Logistics web page as they are the people providing this distribution... For PostgreSQL 7.2.1 on OS X 10.1 http://www.serverlogistics.com/downloads-osx.php#postgre For PostgreSQL 7.3 on OS X 10.2 http://www.serverlogistics.com/downloads-jag.php#postgre adam > hmmm... If you installed the package from Marc Liyanage's PostgreSQL > page, it creates the necessary overhead elements. Probably got it from > fink, right? I'm not sure what fink does, aside from putting stuff in > it's private /sw directory tree. > > On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 07:23 PM, Robert Prather wrote: > >> Actually, mine is called postgre without the 's'. Does he have to >> have a directory under users? >> >> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 05:34 PM, David C. Oshel wrote: >> >>> yup ... try "su - postgres" with an ess >>> >>> there's no /Users/postgre, but there's a /Users/postgres >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 04:32 PM, Robert Prather wrote: >>> >>>> Well, I said you'd be hearing from me again. From a command prompt >>>> I type "su - postgre" and enter the password. It says "su: no >>>> directory" and doesn't let me change users. Any idea which >>>> directory it's looking for? >>>> >>>> Robert >>>> >>>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 03:54 PM, David C.Oshel wrote: >>>> >>>>> If you're using vanilla OS X, you probably have not enabled the >>>>> root user -- which is Mac OS X default behavior for a reason. >>>>> >>>>> Rather than launching a giant project to find out how to enable >>>>> root, just use Terminal and enter "sudo su". You will get the >>>>> usual sudoers lecture (engrave it on your soul, even if you have >>>>> only one user), and you will find yourself staring at the root >>>>> prompt. God help you. >>>>> >>>>> This trick is slightly less omnipotent than actually logging in as >>>>> root, but the difference between disaster and catastrophe is not >>>>> worth mentioning. >>>>> >>>>> Be sure to enter "exit" after you have accomplished the precisely >>>>> exact one single thing you needed to masquerade as root for. >>>>> >>>>> D >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sunday, February 23, 2003, at 02:39 PM, brew@theMode.com wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Now for the stupid part: I forgot the password for that user. I >>>>>>> installed it using FINK and everything went well as I recall. Do >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> need to uninstall the software? If so, is there an easy way to do >>>>>>> this? >>>>>> >>>>>> OS X is Unix (or Unix-like), right? The classic way around this >>>>>> is sign >>>>>> on as root and then use passwd to change the password for user >>>>>> postgres. >>>>>> >>>>>> I've forgotten the postgres user password myself as have probably >>>>>> half the >>>>>> people on this list! >>>>>> >>>>>> brew >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>>>> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >>>>> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >>>>> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >>>>> Einstein >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------------------------(end of >>>>> broadcast)--------------------------- >>>>> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> Robert Prather >>>> 8476873608@mobile.att.net >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>> David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net >>> Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel >>> ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. >>> Einstein >>> >>> >> >> Robert Prather >> 8476873608@mobile.att.net >> >> >> ---------------------------(end of >> broadcast)--------------------------- >> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster >> >> > -- > David C. Oshel mailto:dcoshel@inav.net > Cedar Rapids, Iowa http://soli.inav.net/~dcoshel > ``Raffiniert ist der Herrgot, aber boshaft ist er nicht." - A. Einstein > > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? > > http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.