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doc/src/sgml/ref/initdb.sgml
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PostgreSQL documentation
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-->
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1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
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<refentry id="APP-INITDB">
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<refmeta>
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<refentrytitle>initdb</refentrytitle>
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<manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
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<refmiscinfo>Application</refmiscinfo>
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</refmeta>
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1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
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<refnamediv>
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<refname>initdb</refname>
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<refpurpose>create a new <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> database cluster</refpurpose>
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</refnamediv>
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2003-08-31 19:32:24 +02:00
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<indexterm zone="app-initdb">
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<primary>initdb</primary>
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</indexterm>
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<refsynopsisdiv>
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<cmdsynopsis>
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<command>initdb</command>
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<arg rep="repeat"><replaceable>option</replaceable></arg>
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<group choice="plain">
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<arg>--pgdata</arg>
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<arg>-D </arg>
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<replaceable>directory</replaceable>
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</group>
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</cmdsynopsis>
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</refsynopsisdiv>
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<refsect1 id="R1-APP-INITDB-1">
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<title>
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Description
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</title>
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<para>
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<command>initdb</command> creates a new
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<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> database cluster. A database
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cluster is a collection of databases that are managed by a single
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server instance.
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</para>
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2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
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2000-11-12 00:01:45 +01:00
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<para>
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2005-02-22 03:54:19 +01:00
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Creating a database cluster consists of creating the directories in
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which the database data will live, generating the shared catalog
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tables (tables that belong to the whole cluster rather than to any
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particular database), and creating the <literal>template1</literal>
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2010-11-23 21:27:50 +01:00
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and <literal>postgres</literal> databases. When you later create a
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new database, everything in the <literal>template1</literal> database is
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2005-06-21 06:02:34 +02:00
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copied. (Therefore, anything installed in <literal>template1</literal>
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is automatically copied into each database created later.)
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The <literal>postgres</literal> database is a default database meant
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for use by users, utilities and third party applications.
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</para>
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2002-04-03 07:39:33 +02:00
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<para>
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2005-02-22 03:54:19 +01:00
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Although <command>initdb</command> will attempt to create the
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specified data directory, it might not have permission if the parent
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directory of the desired data directory is root-owned. To initialize
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in such a setup, create an empty data directory as root, then use
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<command>chown</command> to assign ownership of that directory to the
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database user account, then <command>su</command> to become the
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database user to run <command>initdb</command>.
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2002-04-03 07:39:33 +02:00
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</para>
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2000-11-12 00:01:45 +01:00
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<para>
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<command>initdb</command> must be run as the user that will own the
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server process, because the server needs to have access to the
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files and directories that <command>initdb</command> creates.
|
Update reference documentation on may/can/might:
Standard English uses "may", "can", and "might" in different ways:
may - permission, "You may borrow my rake."
can - ability, "I can lift that log."
might - possibility, "It might rain today."
Unfortunately, in conversational English, their use is often mixed, as
in, "You may use this variable to do X", when in fact, "can" is a better
choice. Similarly, "It may crash" is better stated, "It might crash".
2007-02-01 00:26:05 +01:00
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Since the server cannot be run as root, you must not run
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<command>initdb</command> as root either. (It will in fact refuse
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to do so.)
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</para>
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<para>
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<command>initdb</command> initializes the database cluster's default
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locale and character set encoding. The character set encoding,
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collation order (<literal>LC_COLLATE</>) and character set classes
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(<literal>LC_CTYPE</>, e.g. upper, lower, digit) can be set separately
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for a database when it is created. <command>initdb</command> determines
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those settings for the <literal>template1</literal> database, which will
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serve as the default for all other databases.
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</para>
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<para>
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To alter the default collation order or character set classes, use the
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<option>--lc-collate</option> and <option>--lc-ctype</option> options.
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Collation orders other than <literal>C</> or <literal>POSIX</> also have
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a performance penalty. For these reasons it is important to choose the
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2010-11-23 21:27:50 +01:00
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right locale when running <command>initdb</command>.
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2008-09-23 11:20:39 +02:00
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</para>
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<para>
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The remaining locale categories can be changed later when the server
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is started. You can also use <option>--locale</option> to set the
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default for all locale categories, including collation order and
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character set classes. All server locale values (<literal>lc_*</>) can
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be displayed via <command>SHOW ALL</>.
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2005-02-22 03:54:19 +01:00
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More details can be found in <xref linkend="locale">.
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</para>
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<para>
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To alter the default encoding, use the <option>--encoding</option>.
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More details can be found in <xref linkend="multibyte">.
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2005-02-22 03:54:19 +01:00
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</para>
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2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
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</refsect1>
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2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
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<refsect1>
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<title>Options</title>
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<para>
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<variablelist>
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<varlistentry>
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<term><option>-A <replaceable class="parameter">authmethod</replaceable></option></term>
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<term><option>--auth=<replaceable class="parameter">authmethod</replaceable></option></term>
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<listitem>
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<para>
|
2012-02-01 20:18:55 +01:00
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This option specifies the authentication method for local users used
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in <filename>pg_hba.conf</> (<literal>host</literal>
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and <literal>local</literal> lines). Do not use <literal>trust</>
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unless you trust all local users on your system. <literal>trust</> is
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the default for ease of installation.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
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<varlistentry>
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<term><option>--auth-host=<replaceable class="parameter">authmethod</replaceable></option></term>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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This option specifies the authentication method for local users via
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TCP/IP connections used in <filename>pg_hba.conf</>
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(<literal>host</literal> lines).
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
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<varlistentry>
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<term><option>--auth-local=<replaceable class="parameter">authmethod</replaceable></option></term>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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This option specifies the authentication method for local users via
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Unix-domain socket connections used in <filename>pg_hba.conf</>
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(<literal>local</literal> lines).
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2004-08-01 08:19:26 +02:00
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
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1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
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<varlistentry>
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2002-09-21 20:32:54 +02:00
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<term><option>-D <replaceable class="parameter">directory</replaceable></option></term>
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2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
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<term><option>--pgdata=<replaceable class="parameter">directory</replaceable></option></term>
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1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
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<listitem>
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<para>
|
2003-03-24 15:32:51 +01:00
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This option specifies the directory where the database cluster
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2000-12-26 00:15:27 +01:00
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should be stored. This is the only information required by
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2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
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<command>initdb</command>, but you can avoid writing it by
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2000-12-26 00:15:27 +01:00
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setting the <envar>PGDATA</envar> environment variable, which
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can be convenient since the database server
|
2006-06-18 17:38:37 +02:00
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(<command>postgres</command>) can find the database
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2000-12-26 00:15:27 +01:00
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directory later by the same variable.
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1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
|
1998-10-05 04:54:45 +02:00
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1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
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<varlistentry>
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2002-09-21 20:32:54 +02:00
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<term><option>-E <replaceable class="parameter">encoding</replaceable></option></term>
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2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
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<term><option>--encoding=<replaceable class="parameter">encoding</replaceable></option></term>
|
1999-12-17 02:05:31 +01:00
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<listitem>
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|
<para>
|
2001-11-28 21:49:10 +01:00
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Selects the encoding of the template database. This will also
|
2004-03-23 03:47:35 +01:00
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be the default encoding of any database you create later,
|
2004-07-14 19:55:10 +02:00
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unless you override it there. The default is derived from the locale, or
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<literal>SQL_ASCII</literal> if that does not work. The character sets supported by
|
2004-03-23 03:47:35 +01:00
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|
the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> server are described
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in <xref linkend="multibyte-charset-supported">.
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1999-12-17 02:05:31 +01:00
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
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2002-04-03 07:39:33 +02:00
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<varlistentry>
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2002-09-21 20:32:54 +02:00
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<term><option>--locale=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
|
2002-04-03 07:39:33 +02:00
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Sets the default locale for the database cluster. If this
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option is not specified, the locale is inherited from the
|
2004-03-23 03:47:35 +01:00
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environment that <command>initdb</command> runs in. Locale
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support is described in <xref linkend="locale">.
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2002-04-03 07:39:33 +02:00
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
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<varlistentry>
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2002-09-21 20:32:54 +02:00
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<term><option>--lc-collate=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
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<term><option>--lc-ctype=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
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<term><option>--lc-messages=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
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<term><option>--lc-monetary=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
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<term><option>--lc-numeric=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
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<term><option>--lc-time=<replaceable>locale</replaceable></option></term>
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2002-04-03 07:39:33 +02:00
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Like <option>--locale</option>, but only sets the locale in
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the specified category.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
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2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
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2007-01-06 20:40:00 +01:00
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<varlistentry>
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2011-03-09 15:18:44 +01:00
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<term><option>--pwfile=<replaceable>filename</></option></term>
|
2007-01-06 20:40:00 +01:00
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<listitem>
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<para>
|
2011-03-09 15:18:44 +01:00
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Makes <command>initdb</command> read the database superuser's password
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from a file. The first line of the file is taken as the password.
|
2007-01-06 20:40:00 +01:00
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
|
2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
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<varlistentry>
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<term><option>-U <replaceable class="parameter">username</replaceable></option></term>
|
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<term><option>--username=<replaceable class="parameter">username</replaceable></option></term>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Selects the user name of the database superuser. This defaults
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to the name of the effective user running
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<command>initdb</command>. It is really not important what the
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superuser's name is, but one might choose to keep the
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|
customary name <systemitem>postgres</systemitem>, even if the operating
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system user's name is different.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</varlistentry>
|
2010-11-23 21:27:50 +01:00
|
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|
2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
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|
<term><option>-W</option></term>
|
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|
<term><option>--pwprompt</option></term>
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<listitem>
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|
<para>
|
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|
Makes <command>initdb</command> prompt for a password
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|
to give the database superuser. If you don't plan on using password
|
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|
authentication, this is not important. Otherwise you won't be
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|
able to use password authentication until you have a password
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set up.
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|
</para>
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|
</listitem>
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|
</varlistentry>
|
2004-06-24 21:26:59 +02:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
2011-03-09 15:18:44 +01:00
|
|
|
<term><option>-X <replaceable class="parameter">directory</replaceable></option></term>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>--xlogdir=<replaceable class="parameter">directory</replaceable></option></term>
|
2004-06-24 21:26:59 +02:00
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|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
2011-03-09 15:18:44 +01:00
|
|
|
This option specifies the directory where the transaction log
|
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|
|
should be stored.
|
2004-06-24 21:26:59 +02:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
2011-03-09 15:18:44 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
|
|
|
</variablelist>
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
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|
<para>
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|
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|
Other, less commonly used, parameters are also available:
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
<variablelist>
|
2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>-d</option></term>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>--debug</option></term>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
2007-02-22 00:21:12 +01:00
|
|
|
Print debugging output from the bootstrap backend and a few other
|
2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
|
|
|
messages of lesser interest for the general public.
|
2007-02-22 00:21:12 +01:00
|
|
|
The bootstrap backend is the program <command>initdb</command>
|
|
|
|
uses to create the catalog tables. This option generates a tremendous
|
|
|
|
amount of extremely boring output.
|
2002-10-12 01:03:48 +02:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
2002-09-21 20:32:54 +02:00
|
|
|
<term><option>-L <replaceable class="parameter">directory</replaceable></option></term>
|
1999-12-17 02:05:31 +01:00
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
Specifies where <command>initdb</command> should find
|
2003-03-24 15:32:51 +01:00
|
|
|
its input files to initialize the database cluster. This is
|
2000-12-26 00:15:27 +01:00
|
|
|
normally not necessary. You will be told if you need to
|
|
|
|
specify their location explicitly.
|
1999-12-17 02:05:31 +01:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
2002-09-21 20:32:54 +02:00
|
|
|
<term><option>-n</option></term>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>--noclean</option></term>
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
2007-02-22 00:21:12 +01:00
|
|
|
By default, when <command>initdb</command>
|
|
|
|
determines that an error prevented it from completely creating the database
|
|
|
|
cluster, it removes any files it might have created before discovering
|
|
|
|
that it cannot finish the job. This option inhibits tidying-up and is
|
|
|
|
thus useful for debugging.
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
2010-02-19 15:36:45 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>-V</></term>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>--version</></term>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
|
|
Print the <application>initdb</application> version and exit.
|
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>-?</></term>
|
|
|
|
<term><option>--help</></term>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
|
|
Show help about <application>initdb</application> command line
|
|
|
|
arguments, and exit.
|
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
2000-11-12 00:01:45 +01:00
|
|
|
</refsect1>
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
|
2000-11-12 00:01:45 +01:00
|
|
|
<refsect1>
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
<title>Environment</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<term><envar>PGDATA</envar></term>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
2003-03-24 15:32:51 +01:00
|
|
|
Specifies the directory where the database cluster is to be
|
Update reference documentation on may/can/might:
Standard English uses "may", "can", and "might" in different ways:
may - permission, "You may borrow my rake."
can - ability, "I can lift that log."
might - possibility, "It might rain today."
Unfortunately, in conversational English, their use is often mixed, as
in, "You may use this variable to do X", when in fact, "can" is a better
choice. Similarly, "It may crash" is better stated, "It might crash".
2007-02-01 00:26:05 +01:00
|
|
|
stored; can be overridden using the <option>-D</option> option.
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
</variablelist>
|
2007-02-20 19:10:59 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
|
|
This utility, like most other <productname>PostgreSQL</> utilities,
|
2007-03-26 19:23:37 +02:00
|
|
|
also uses the environment variables supported by <application>libpq</>
|
|
|
|
(see <xref linkend="libpq-envars">).
|
2007-02-20 19:10:59 +01:00
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
</refsect1>
|
|
|
|
|
2009-12-10 07:32:28 +01:00
|
|
|
<refsect1>
|
|
|
|
<title>Notes</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
|
|
<command>initdb</command> can also be invoked via
|
|
|
|
<command>pg_ctl initdb</command>.
|
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</refsect1>
|
|
|
|
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
<refsect1>
|
|
|
|
<title>See Also</title>
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
<simplelist type="inline">
|
2009-12-10 07:32:28 +01:00
|
|
|
<member><xref linkend="app-pg-ctl"></member>
|
2001-09-08 17:24:00 +02:00
|
|
|
<member><xref linkend="app-postgres"></member>
|
|
|
|
</simplelist>
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
</refsect1>
|
2000-11-12 00:01:45 +01:00
|
|
|
|
1999-07-06 19:16:42 +02:00
|
|
|
</refentry>
|