new install starting backend

[David Bear]

I installed postgres from the freebsd ports collection.

Then, after doing the initdb, I tried to run the backend as the
postgres user, ie while su'ed as pgsql. I was prompt for a password.
Since I had not change and pg_hba.conf settings, nor set a password
during the initdb phase, I was surprised by this.

When I su'ed back to root, I was able to run the startup script the
package had put in /usr/local/etc/rc.d. But, this contradicts:

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/7.4/static/postmaster-start.html

Different systems have different conventions for starting up daemons
at boot time. Many systems have a file /etc/rc.local or
/etc/rc.d/rc.local. Others use rc.d directories. Whatever you do, the
server must be run by the PostgreSQL user account and not by root or
any other user. Therefore you probably should form your commands
using su -c '...' postgres. For example:

I did check ps ax and found

pgsql 39212 0.0 0.4 6292 4376 ?? I 4:15PM 0:00.00
postmaster: stats
pgsql 39210 0.0 0.4 7280 4384 ?? I 4:15PM 0:00.00
postmaster: stats
pgsql 39206 0.0 0.4 15532 4460 ?? Is 4:15PM 0:00.02
/usr/local/bin/pos

which indicates the postmaster is running as the postgresql superuser.
So far, all seems okay, but I wanted to check to make sure this looked
okay. any comments?
--
David Bear
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
College of Public Programs/ASU
Wilson Hall 232
Tempe, AZ 85287-0803
"Beware the IP portfolio, everyone will be suspect of trespassing"

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TIP 7: don't forget to increase your free space map settings

[Joe Sunday]

Post by David Bear
I installed postgres from the freebsd ports collection.
Then, after doing the initdb, I tried to run the backend as the
postgres user, ie while su'ed as pgsql. I was prompt for a password.
Since I had not change and pg_hba.conf settings, nor set a password
during the initdb phase, I was surprised by this.
When I su'ed back to root, I was able to run the startup script the
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/7.4/static/postmaster-start.html
Different systems have different conventions for starting up daemons
at boot time. Many systems have a file /etc/rc.local or
/etc/rc.d/rc.local. Others use rc.d directories. Whatever you do, the
server must be run by the PostgreSQL user account and not by root or
any other user. Therefore you probably should form your commands
I did check ps ax and found
pgsql 39212 0.0 0.4 6292 4376 ?? I 4:15PM 0:00.00
postmaster: stats
pgsql 39210 0.0 0.4 7280 4384 ?? I 4:15PM 0:00.00
postmaster: stats
pgsql 39206 0.0 0.4 15532 4460 ?? Is 4:15PM 0:00.02
/usr/local/bin/pos
which indicates the postmaster is running as the postgresql superuser.
So far, all seems okay, but I wanted to check to make sure this looked
okay. any comments?

The startup script in the ports collection does the su for you.
If you try to run it as the postgres user, it will still attempt an su,
which since you aren't root will require the unix password for the
postgres account to execute. Run as root, su just works without needing
a password. So you're seeing the expected behaviour.

--Joe