Install PostgreSQL 9.1.2

The PostgreSQL database will store the users, resource metadata, and harvesting schedule information for the geoportal. You will install PostgreSQL from its source code instead of installing it from your distribution's online repositories. This requires a little more effort in the installation but greatly simplifies the management of PostgreSQL as well as this tutorial.

Table of Contents Download PostgreSQL Install PostgreSQL Create the postgres User Create the Directory for PostgreSQL Data Initialize and Start the PostgreSQL Server Set Up Autostart on Boot for PostgreSQL Verify Autostart on Boot

Download PostgreSQL

Change to the /usr/local/etc directory. Download the PostgreSQL source code to this directory by entering the following:

$ sudo wget ftp://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v9.1.2/postgresql-9.1.2.tar.gz

The .tar.gz file format is how most files are packaged and compressed in Linux. It is basically the Linux version of the .zip format. Extract the .tar.gz file by entering the following:

$ sudo tar zxvf postgresql-9.1.2.tar.gz

The contents of the .tar.gz file will automatically be extracted to a new postgresql-9.1.2 directory within the /usr/local/etc directory.

Install PostgreSQL

You will now install PostgreSQL from the source code. It is a three-step process. First, you'll prepare your computer and the source code. Next, you'll compile the source code into the full program. Finally, you'll install the compiled program. Don't worry; it's a lot easier than it sounds.

Note: This may seem unnecessarily complicated. Why not use just one command? This process allows advanced users of Linux to highly customize the installation of software to their system. It epitomizes the spirit of open source software, giving users control over the software they install on their computers instead of the other way around.

Change to the new postgresql-9.1.2 directory.

$ cd /usr/local/etc/postgresql-9.1.2

The PostgreSQL source code includes a script that automatically prepares your computer and the source code for compiling.

$ ./configure

Next, compile the source code for installation.

$ make

Finally, you can install PostgreSQL

$ sudo make install

Note: The sudo command is required for the last step because this step is where you're making actual changes to the operation of the computer. The ./configure script and make command, while required for installing software from the source onto Linux, do not actually cause any changes to the operation of the computer.

Create the postgres User

For database security and integrity, you will create the postgres user for the PostgreSQL application. It will act like the Linux root user but only for the PostgreSQL database. Create the user like you created the geoportal user, but do not make it a member of the wheel or sudo group.

Create the Directory for PostgreSQL Data

In this step, you will create the directory where all the data stored in the PostgreSQL database will be stored. You will then make the postgres user the owner of this directory.

Change to the newly created /usr/local/pgsql directory. This is where PostgreSQL was installed.

$ cd /usr/local/pgsql

Create the data directory.

$ sudo mkdir /usr/local/pgsql/data

Change ownership of this directory to the postgres user.

$ sudo chown postgres:postgres /usr/local/pgsql/data

Now reboot your computer so all the changes that you have made so far take effect.

$ sudo reboot

Initialize and Start the PostgreSQL Server

Log back in to your computer, reopen the terminal, and switch to the postgres user.

$ su postgres

Now initialize the PostgreSQL database by entering the following:

$ pg_ctl initdb

Now start up the PostgreSQL database server by entering the following:

$ pg_ctl start

You may have to press Enter to return to the command line.

Set Up Autostart on Boot for PostgreSQL

This step will prevent you from having to start up the PostgreSQL database server manually every time you reboot the machine.

First, switch back to the geoportal user.

$ su geoportal

Configuring autostart on boot depends heavily on which distribution of Linux you are using. Fortunately, PostgreSQL makes it easy by providing a startup script that works with most distributions of Linux.

Arch Linux and Related

First, copy the PostgreSQL startup script to the /etc/rc.d directory. $ sudo cp /usr/local/etc/postgresql-9.1.2/contrib/start-scripts/linux /etc/rc.d/postgresql Change ownership of the script to the root user. $ sudo chown root:root /etc/rc.d/postgresql Make the script executable. $ sudo chmod +x /etc/rc.d/postgresql Open rc.conf in vi for editing. $ sudo vi /etc/rc.conf At the bottom of the file, add postgresql to the daemons list. DAEMONS=(syslog-ng network crond '''postgresql''') Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

Debian, Ubuntu, and Related

First, copy the PostgreSQL startup script to the /etc/init.d directory. $ sudo cp /usr/local/etc/postgresql-9.1.2/contrib/start-scripts/linux /etc/init.d/postgresql Change ownership of the script to the root user. $ sudo chown root:root /etc/init.d/postgresql Make the script executable. $ sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/postgresql Add the postgresql script to the startup sequence. $ sudo update-rc.d postgresql defaults Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

Fedora, CentOS, and Related

First, copy the PostgreSQL startup script to the /etc/init.d directory. $ sudo cp /usr/local/etc/postgresql-9.1.2/contrib/start-scripts/linux /etc/init.d/postgresql Change ownership of the script to the root user. $ sudo chown root:root /etc/init.d/postgresql Make the script executable. $ sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/postgresql Use chkconfig to add the script to the startup sequence. $ sudo chkconfig --add postgresql Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

Verify Autostart on Boot

After rebooting the system, reopen the terminal and switch to the postgres user. Change to the /usr/local/ directory and enter the following:

$ pg_ctl status

It will tell you that the PostgreSQL database server is running or not. If not, verify that the start script was initialized correctly.

---

Next Step: Install Apache Tomcat 6

---

<<How to Set Up an Esri Geoportal Server on Linux | Perform Preinstallation Computer Setup | Set Up Systemwide Environment Variables | Install PostgreSQL 9.1.2 | Install Apache Tomcat 6 | Install Esri Geoportal Server | Configure geoportal User and Schema in the PostgreSQL Database | Deploy the Geoportal Web Application | Configure the gpt.xml File | Install the JDBC .jar Files | Log In to the Geoportal | Register ArcGIS for Server with the Geoportal>>