RE: pg_ctlcluster is not stopping cluster

I tried the command you suggested, and it shows that data directory status as "DOWN". Yet when I ask pg_ctlcluster for it's status it says the server is running.

What does this mean?

root(at)d11:/var/tmp/myapp# pg_lsclusters
Ver Cluster Port Status Owner Data directory Log file
13 main 5432 down postgres /var/lib/postgresql/13/main /var/log/postgresql/postgresql-13-main.log
15 main 5433 down postgres /var/lib/postgresql/15/main /var/log/postgresql/postgresql-15-main.log
root(at)d11:/var/tmp/myapp# sudo -u postgres /usr/bin/pg_ctlcluster 15 main status -- -D /var/lib/postgresql/13/main
pg_ctl: server is running (PID: 2701882)
/usr/lib/postgresql/15/bin/postgres "-D" "/var/lib/postgresql/13/main" "-c" "config_file=/etc/postgresql/15/main/postgresql.conf"
root(at)d11:/var/tmp/myapp#

-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian Klaver [mailto:adrian(dot)klaver(at)aklaver(dot)com]
Sent: Friday, April 7, 2023 6:47 PM
To: Telium Technical Support <support(at)telium(dot)io>; pgsql-general(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Re: pg_ctlcluster is not stopping cluster

On 4/7/23 15:27, Telium Technical Support wrote:
> I am string to stop my PostgreSQL (on debian 11) server using the
> following command
>
> root(at)d11:/# sudo -u postgres /usr/bin/pg_ctlcluster 15 main stop -- -m
> fast -D /var/lib/postgresql/13/main
>
> Notice: extra pg_ctl/postgres options given, bypassing systemctl for
> stop operation
>
> pg_ctl: PID file "/var/lib/postgresql/13/main/postmaster.pid" does not
> exist
>
> Is server running?
>
> The notice is correct, the is no such postmaster.pid file in that
> directory, but yes the service is running. I can confirm it's running with:
>
> root(at)d11:/# sudo -u postgres /usr/bin/pg_ctlcluster 15 main status --
> -D /var/lib/postgresql/13/main
>
> pg_ctl: server is running (PID: 2701882)
>
> /usr/lib/postgresql/15/bin/postgres "-D" "/var/lib/postgresql/13/main"
> "-c" "config_file=/etc/postgresql/15/main/postgresql.conf"
>
> So why is my stop command being ignored? (I tried without the -m fast
> option but no change, and I'd like to keep that for other reasons). I
> confirmed with 'ps ax' that postgresql 15 is running, despite the
> directory suggesting it might be 13. Coincidentally, there is a
> postmaster.pid file in a directory OTHER than the data directory:
>
> /var/lib/postgresql/15/main/postmaster.pid
>
> (and notice the 15). Is this a clue?

Yes that this:

sudo -u postgres /usr/bin/pg_ctlcluster 15 main stop -- -m fast -D /var/lib/postgresql/13/main

is not correct.

First do:

pg_lsclusters

to determine what is actually running.

Then do

sudo -u postgres /usr/bin/pg_ctlcluster <version> main stop -- -m fast -D /var/lib/postgresql/13/main stop -m fast

for whatever version is running.

>

--
Adrian Klaver
adrian(dot)klaver(at)aklaver(dot)com