Problems Restarting PostgreSQL Daemon

My server is rebooted infrequently, usually after a kernel upgrade and
on very rare occasions when something causes it to hang. After rebooting I
always have serious issues getting postgresql running again, even though the
startup script is part of the boot sequence. Yesterday was one of those
highly unusual hangs, and I cannot restart the service. I'd like to
understand why.

When I run the Slackware script, '/etc/rc.d/rc.postgresql start' (script
attached), I'm shown a process ID and told the daemon is already running.
For example:

Starting PostgreSQL
15342
PostgreSQL daemon already running

However, there is no process ID 15342, and no postgres running. I manually
removed /tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432 and its log file. Also -- apparently in error --
the .pid file. Makes no difference.

Perhaps there's an error in the script that I'm not seeing (I didn't write
it). Regardless, if I learn why there's a problem I can fix the script and
avoid this delay and hassle restarting postgres after the daemon's been shut
down.

TIA,

Rich

--
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D. | Integrity Credibility
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc. | Innovation
<http://www.appl-ecosys.com> Voice: 503-667-4517 Fax: 503-667-8863