Install PostgreSQL on Arch | Manjaro | Garuda Linux

⬡ #postgresql, #archlinux, #manjaro, #garuda, #linux
☕6 minutes 📝 1121

Overview

PostgreSQL is a powerful open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that allows you to store and manage large amounts of data. It was first released in 1996 and has become one of the most popular RDBMSs in the world.

PostgreSQL is designed to handle high levels of concurrency, providing features such as MVCC (multi-version concurrency control) that allow multiple users to access the same data simultaneously without conflicts. It is also highly extensible, with a large number of third-party extensions and libraries available that can be used to add functionality to the core database.

Some of the key features of PostgreSQL include support for complex SQL queries, advanced indexing and query optimization, transactional integrity, and support for a wide range of programming languages and development frameworks.PostgreSQL is used by a wide range of organizations, from small businesses to large enterprises, and is particularly popular in industries such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, where high levels of data security and reliability are critical.

In this tutorial, we’ll look at how to install PostgreSQL on Arch Linux, Manjaro, Garuda Linux, or any other Arch-based distro out there.

PostgreSQL use cases

Why PostgreSQL?

Postgres offers a lot of advantages that make it an excellent choice for highly transactional environments regardless of application size and data volume. Its rich feature set and flexibility make it a popular choice for a wide range of applications and industries. Some of the top features are:

Install PostgreSQL on Arch | Manjaro | Garuda Linux

Now with all that fluff out of the way, let's get to business. The steps have been tested on Arch Linux with the KDE desktop.

Note: Commands that should be run as the postgres user are prefixed by [postgres]$ in this article.

Step 1: Installing the PostgreSQL Package

sudo pacman -Syu postgresql

This command will update the package database and update all packages on the system then install the PostgreSQL package from your distribution mirrors. Never install a package without updating the system first. On a rolling release, this can lead to an unbootable system. Installing the package will also create a system user called postgres. You can now switch to the postgres user using a privilege elevation program.

You can switch to the PostgreSQL user by executing the following command:

Step 2: Initial Configuration

Before PostgreSQL can function correctly, the database cluster must be initialized.

2.1 We can confirm the installed PostgreSQL version by running:

postgres --version                                                                           ─╯
postgres (PostgreSQL) 15.1

2.2 Set applicable entries in /etc/locale.gen

echo "en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8" | sudo tee /etc/locale.gen

2.3 Then run **locale-gen** to generate locale settings

sudo locale-gen
Generating locales...
  en_US.UTF-8... done
Generation complete.

2.4 Initialize Postgres Data Directory

You must first log in as the postgres user using the following command before you can initialize PostgreSQL’s data directory:

sudo su - postgres

2.5 With the following command, you can now initialize PostgreSQL’s data directory:

[postgres]$ initdb -D /var/lib/postgres/data

Step 3: PostgreSQL Service Management

3.1 Check PostgreSQL status with the following command:

systemctl status postgresql                                                                  ─╯
 postgresql.service - PostgreSQL database server
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/postgresql.service; disabled; preset: disabled)
     Active: inactive (dead)

3.2 Start the PostgreSQL service by running the following command:

sudo systemctl start postgresql

3.3 Enable the PostgreSQL service to start automatically at boot by running the following command:

sudo systemctl enable postgresql

3.4 Verify that PostgreSQL is running by running the following command:

sudo systemctl status postgresql                                                             ─╯
● postgresql.service - PostgreSQL database server
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/postgresql.service; enabled; preset: disabled)
     Active: active (running) since Thu 2023-02-16 22:52:43 EAT; 20s ago
   Main PID: 26106 (postgres)
      Tasks: 6 (limit: 8790)
     Memory: 16.9M
        CPU: 113ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/postgresql.service
             ├─26106 /usr/bin/postgres -D /var/lib/postgres/data
             ├─26107 "postgres: checkpointer "
             ├─26108 "postgres: background writer "
             ├─26110 "postgres: walwriter "
             ├─26111 "postgres: autovacuum launcher "
             └─26112 "postgres: logical replication launcher "

Change postgres user password

To change the postgres user password execute the following command:

sudo -u postgres psql -c "ALTER USER postgres PASSWORD '$PGPASSWORD';"

Resources

Conclusion

Installing PostgreSQL on Arch Linux-based distribution is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. By following the steps outlined above, you can install, configure, and start the PostgreSQL database server on your Arch Linux system. Once installed, you can use PostgreSQL to store, manage, and query data for a wide range of applications and use cases. With its advanced features and high level of extensibility, PostgreSQL is a popular choice for developers and businesses seeking a robust and reliable database management system.

You can connect to the PostgreSQL server using the psql command-line client or a graphical tool such as pgAdmin.