Re: multiple version installation in the same machine ????

Josh Harrison wrote:
> Hi
> I have a postgres version 7.4 and version 8.3 installed in my system.
> 7.4 uses port 5432 and 8.3 uses port 5433.
> I started 7.4 and the database is running fine. Now i started the database
> server in version 8.3
> and it started fine.
>
> pg_ctl -D /export/home/josh/postgres8.3/pgsql/data start -l log8.3.log
> server starting
> -sh-3.00$ pg_ctl status
> pg_ctl: server is running (PID: 4408)
> /usr4/postgres8.3/bin/postgres -D /export/home/josh/postgres8.3/pgsql/data
>
> But when I type psql -l I get this error
> -sh-3.00$ psql -l
> psql: FATAL: database "postgres" does not exist

Yep.

> why? Is it not possible to have multiple version installations i the same
> machine(in different ports)?

It is, and lots of people do.

Answer the following questions and you'll find out why you get your
error (or just guess, and you'll probably figure it out).

Q1. Do you have two versions of the psql command installed?
Q2. Which one are you running above?
Q3. What is the default port, user, database that it is connecting as to
run "-l"?
Q4. Does the version of the PostgreSQL on that port have that user and
database?

Personally I wrap my commands in aliases:
alias psql82='/usr/local/pgsql82/bin/psql -p5433'
alias psql83='/usr/local/pgsql83/bin/psql -p5483'

Others prefer a small wrapper script, or even a "set default
installation" command.

--
Richard Huxton
Archonet Ltd