Re: PostgreSQL on Windows not starting

Chris,

i dove through all sorts of pain with windows security and PostgreSQL
services while postgresql on win32 was in beta. Even deployed some big
application to > 30 computers installing win32 PostgreSQL in beta. So, some
areas where I had things to learn:

1.) group policies.
On win32 computers within a domain, as a local administrator you are quite
able to create (local) users with all sort of privileges; esp. if you do it
via the api and not with GUI tools from MS.
Group Policies will NOT interfer with the creation of a user that is outside
the policie! ... but it will silently roll his priviliges back to "normal",
whatever "normal" is in that domain.

Most common error: the PostgreSQL service user needs the "logon as service"
privilege. No normal user needs it, so most "normal user" policies (esp. the
default by Microsoft) strips this privilege. On a "random time basis" -
that is, not with every logon, but every 2 to 7 days. Have fun with bug
hunting!

2.) Problems in the field of sockets
PostgreSQL spawns (or forks?) a new process to deal with every connection.
The master has to pass an open connection socket to this child. SOME

- firewalls
- voice over ip
- adult service USB tokens
- viral scanners
- computer telephony integration software

screw up the Windows tcp/ip stack. We spend some nights in repairing ( that
is: me crying and testing, Magnus patching and compiling) the "passing of
sockets even if the tcp/ip stack is screwed"; but maybe, even maybe your
customer found a new way to destroy it?

3.) read the event log
4.) read the log in data/pg_log

Best wishes

Harald

--
GHUM Harald Massa
persuadere et programmare
Harald Armin Massa
Reinsburgstraße 202b
70197 Stuttgart
0173/9409607
-
PostreSQL - works as documented