How to restart PostgreSQL installed by Brew in OSX

homebrewpostgresql

In Linux, it can be done by /etc/init.d/postgresql-9.2 restart.
My OSX is not a server app.

I think it it can be done by ALTER USER postgres with password '1234'; postgreQSL prompt but I am not sure if it is the meant way.

How can you restart the PostgreSQL server in OSX?

Best Answer

Manually Start PostgreSQL:

pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres -l /usr/local/var/postgres/server.log start

Manually Stop PostgreSQL:

pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres stop -s -m fast

This stackoverflow discussion really goes into some great detail, with many more options. I used it to create an alias to just run:

postgresql.server stop
postgresql.server start

Related Solutions

How to configure postgresql in Lion

First up, what's the error you're getting, and how are you getting it? Are you trying to re-run the installer?

In answer to two, take a look at http://www.jonathandean.com/2011/08/postgresql-8-4-on-mac-os-x-10-7-lion/ who seems to have gotten it sorted.

There absolutely is a GUI for PostgreSQL, it's called pgAdmin 3 (or pgAdmin III). If you successfully installed the OS X version of PostgreSQL from their site, then you should already have it (take a peek in Launchpad). If it's not there, you can get it at http://www.pgadmin.org/ but read the downloads page carefully---it isn't well sorted and the most up-to-date version is in the middle of the list.

As EmmEff said, in future Homebrew or MacPorts might be easier (especially if you like playing around!) since you can wipe the install cleanly.

Password problems changing users in Terminal

To switch to user postgres, type in Terminal:
```
sudo su - postgres
```
If you are asked for a password, type yours.

(The - in sudo su - changes the environment to that of the new user, and it's probably what you want. See man su for details.)
Now, to switch back to your user, simply type:
```
exit
```
to exit the current bash session and go back to your original bash session.

Note that if you type sudo su <user> as user postgres you need to identify yourself to sudo and type postgres's password, but as you say, it hasn't any, so it won't work. It may even be the case that user postgres is not allowed to use sudo at all.