Postgres says it starts ok, but doesn't!

[onaweb]

I was having some problems with getting postgres started. When I tried service postgresql start - it would come back that postgresql is an unrecognized service. At the advice of people on this forum, I reinstalled postgresql. When in whm, it states that posgresql started ok, but in service status it still says failed. I have uncommented the tcp and port lines from postgresql.conf and set the tcp = true. I can log in and create a db and user, but when I try to connect to db, I receive an error message Warning: pg_connect(): Unable to connect to PostgreSQL server: unknown host name: localhost.

Any ideas?

I would really appreciate any help that anyone can offer.

Thanks,
Andy

[vivek]

Hello,

If postgresql on Cpanel refuses to start even after reinstalling it from /scripts, try the following steps :

1. Delete the postgre files in /tmp.
2. rm -rf /var/lib/pgsql/data
3. su - postgres
4. initdb
5. start postgre from ssh
6. Go back and try the WHM functions again.

After doing #4 the msg. ends with:

Success. You can now start the database server using:

/usr/bin/postmaster -D /var/lib/pgsql/data
or
/usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /var/lib/pgsql/data -l logfile start

Chose the first option or start Postgres from WHM.

If any body else have any suggestion regarding please post the reply or suggest another solution .

Thank You.
Vivek

[onaweb]

Hello Vivek,
thanks for your help.

At step 4, I get this:
initdb: You must identify where the the data for this database
system will reside. Do this with either a -D invocation
option or a PGDATA environment variable.

[onaweb]

Got that far, I received the Success message went to start postgres using the /usr/bin/postmaster -D /var/lib/pgsql/data command and it hangs at
LOG: database system is ready - not sure if this is normal but it doesn't bring me back to a prompt yet.

[Sheldon]

ive got the same problem...

havent tried this yet tho!

[casey]

Got that far, I received the Success message went to start postgres using the /usr/bin/postmaster -D /var/lib/pgsql/data command and it hangs at
LOG: database system is ready - not sure if this is normal but it doesn't bring me back to a prompt yet.

hit ctrl-c and then change the postgres password in WHM. Then restart it in WHM.

[onaweb]

Now we just took 2 steps back. Now if I try to restart Postgres in WHM I get this:
postgresql has failed, please contact the sysadmin (result was "postmaster is not running").

[casey]

initdb -D /var/lib/pgsql/data

and restarting it from whm should work.

[Sheldon]

didnt work for me!

[casey]

didnt work for me!

Then try vivek's post again. That is how I have gotten it running on 3 different stubborn servers. Try both
/usr/bin/postmaster -D /var/lib/pgsql/data
and
/usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /var/lib/pgsql/data -l logfile start
to get it started. Once it's running you should be able to change the password and set up the configuration file via WHM. Then you can restart it from WHM. Don't give up. Eventually it will work.

[vivek]

Hey casey,

It works for me perfectly, its not working for other people. hehehehe
correct me if i have given any incorrect steps for resolving the problem.

By the way casey where are you from, can we talk in private if you do not mind

Thank You,
Vivek.

[casey]

Hey casey,

It works for me perfectly, its not working for other people. hehehehe
correct me if i have given any incorrect steps for resolving the problem.

By the way casey where are you from, can we talk in private if you do not mind

Thank You,
Vivek.

No, those are the correct steps. That's why I specifically told them to try your solution again. That is exactly how I have fixed it on a few different servers.

Send me a pm if you wanna chat.

[mhbrands]

I had the same problem after the cpanel update. I downgraded back to stable and then rebuilt postgres... works great now

[manghooli]

Thanks, it works perfectly for me
i think, it is useful to turn it to a HOWTO topic

[sv1]

Worked like a charm!