Re: Unable to dump database using pg_dump

Adam Dear <adear(at)usnx(dot)net> writes:
> I'm not seeing the madisoncounty user in there.

Odder and odder. It might be worth trying "vacuum freeze pg_shadow".

> Also, I tried starting
> the db using /etc/init.d/postgres start, and it fails.

Fails how? In particular, what shows up in the postmaster log?

> Is that the
> proper way to get the service going, or should I be doing something else?

The usual way to manually start/stop daemons on Linux is

sudo /sbin/service postgresql start
sudo /sbin/service postgresql stop

(omitting sudo if you're already root). I'm not sure offhand if there's
any real difference between that and just calling the init.d script
directly, but I believe that's how you're Supposed To Do It.

regards, tom lane