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Hi All, In this article I want to quickly show you specific steps to install PostgreSQL 8 database on CENTOS Linux 5. As we all know that we can use yum to install packages / softwares, I am using yum for this installation. To make sure that you have everything needed do:

#yum list | grep postgresql

Then verify that you see:

postgresql.i386, postgresql-server.i386 and postgres-libs.i386. if you have 64 bit version then you will see x86_64.

Centos installation comes with postgresql-lib installed. If it is not installed then please follow:

#yum install postgresql-libs

Now, the general installation. As root install postgres core and postgresql server:

#yum install postgresql postgresql-server

We need a seperate user as owner of postgresql database owner so create postgres user:

#adduser postgres

A directory to store datafiles caleed the 'datafile' for the database:

#mkdir -p /usr/local/pgsql/data

It is necessary to change ownership of the data files to the postgres user:

#chown postgres /usr/local/pgsql/data

now change your role to postgres user from root user:

#su - postgres

Initialize the datafiles for the database:

#/usr/bin/initdb -D /usr/local/pgsql/data

In most of the cases it will starStart the database with initialized datafiles as the background process (&) and log all messages and errors (2&1) in the logfile:

#/usr/bin/postgres -D /usr/local/pgsql/data > logfile 2>&1 &

Create the test database:

#/usr/bin/createdb firstdb

Log in to the test database:

$/usr/bin/psql firstdb
Welcome to psql 8.3.7, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal.

Type: \copyright for distribution terms
\h for help with SQL commands
\? for help with psql commands
\g or terminate with semicolon to execute query
\q to quit

firstdb=>