Moving PostgreSQL data directory on Windows

Hello,

I would like to move the data directory to another location.
I have done this:
1. Stop PostgreSQL
2. Move data directory
3. Create a PGDATA env. variable to the new location 4. Start
PostgreSQL

And it cannot start, because it cannot find postgresql.conf.
(in Event log) What should I do now?

Are you running it as a service:? If so you need to reconfigure the service. Unfortunatly,the only way to do this is using regedit. Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\pgsql-8.1

Open the value "ImagePath" and change the data directory.

//Magnus

Ottó Havasvölgyi <havasvolgyi.otto@gmail.com> writes:

Hello,

I would like to move the data directory to another location. I have done this:
1. Stop PostgreSQL
2. Move data directory
3. Create a PGDATA env. variable to the new location
4. Start PostgreSQL

And it cannot start, because it cannot find postgresql.conf. (in Event log)
What should I do now?

Dumb question, but are you sure you exported the PGDATA variable? Is
it pointing to the directory that actually contains postgresql.conf?

If you still have problems, post the exact error message that appears
in the logs.

-Doug

Doug McNaught <doug@mcnaught.org> writes:

Dumb question, but are you sure you exported the PGDATA variable? Is
it pointing to the directory that actually contains postgresql.conf?

If you still have problems, post the exact error message that appears
in the logs.

Duh, I didn't read the subject line and assumed it was on Unix. :)

-Doug

"Magnus Hagander" <mha@sollentuna.net> writes:

[ changing PGDATA doesn't seem to work on Windows ]

Are you running it as a service:? If so you need to reconfigure the service. Unfortunatly,the only way to do this is using regedit. Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\pgsql-8.1

Is this documented anywhere? Certainly our SGML manuals don't talk
about anything except the Unix case. Perhaps there needs to be a
chapter in the Server Administration section about managing a Windows
PG server. Or is all that in the installer docs?

regards, tom lane

Magnus,

It's a service, and it is 8.0.6. I have fixed the registry to this
value: "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0\bin\pg_ctl.exe" runservice -N
"pgsql-8.0" -D "E:\PostgreSQL\data\"

The service does not start.
This new directory definetely exists. But now there is no Event log
entry about the error. The log file says nothing because it is in the
data/pg_log directory.

Thanks,
Otto

2006/1/13, Magnus Hagander <mha@sollentuna.net>:

Directory permissions for user the user running the service?

Ott� Havasv�lgyi wrote:

Ok, two things:

First, when using this method, yo uhave to reboot after editing the registry. If you didn't do that, then that's your problem. Sorry, forgot to mention that. If not, then looking at permissions as Rodrigo suggested is the next step.

Second, there is of course a nicer way of doing this than editing the registry, that I compleetley forgot about. It's still not as nice as you would want, but it should work. You use pg_ctl unregister to remove the service, and then pg_ctl register to register a new one with the new data directory. Doing this you won't hvae to reboot.

Perhaps this is something we should add to pg_ctl for 8.2? "pg_ctl reconfigure" or something like that? What do others think?

//Magnus

Hello,

Ok. I did not set any security on the machine. Only I have access to
it. Now I have done this:

0. Registry is modified (yesterday)
1. Restart today
2. Modify registry to the old value
3. Start PostgreSQL -> pg_ctl and postmaster are running (they are in
the task list), but no postgres
4. "pg_ctl status" says that neither postmaster nor postgres are
running. No new entry in event log.
5. Stop with "pg_ctl stop" -> it says "Could not send stop signal (PID
3624): no such process". There is really no such PID.
6. Restart Windows -> the same as before
7. Stop PostgreSQL from the Sart menu -> it took a half minute, and
now only postmaster is running.
8. pg_ctl unregister -N "pgsql-8.0" -> seems it succeeded
9. Register on the new location
10. Start with "net start "pgsql-8.0"" -> The service could not be
started, no event log entry. Perhaps because a postmaster isrunning.
11. Kill postmaster, I cannot stop it in other way.
12. Start from Start menu and "net start", but nothing happens. The
same message as in step 10.
13. Start from Control panel - Services -> Message: "The service
started then stopped."

Now I really don't know how to start this.
Perhaps reinstaling Postgres is easier.

14. Modified all this with the installer, but PostgreSQL does not start.
15. Backup data directory
16. Uninstall PostgreSQL
17. Install PostgreSQL 8.0.6 (this was installed before), as service,
set the same passwords.
18. Stop PostgreSQL
19. Move the backuped data directory to the location PostgreSQL uses.
20. Start PostgreSQL now, but it does not start this way. :(

What can be done to use my old data? It's not that critical, only tests.

Thanks,
Otto

2006/1/14, Magnus Hagander <mha@sollentuna.net>:

Hi,

I was just doing the same thing this morning, well somewhat the same;
anyways, what I did was

1. uninstall Postgres, and run the installation again(don't use the
upgrade.bat), same major version.
2. on the initial installation window, choose a new data directory by
clicking on browse, point to your new location of data directory (the
directory where you moved the data)
3. make sure you enable the run as service
4. don't initialize cluster db, uncheck it.
5. continue with installation.
6. you should be able to start the service from the services msc.

Regards,

Jonel Rienton

--
I know not english well, but I know 9 computer languages.
Pinoy Ako!

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-general-owner@postgresql.org
[mailto:pgsql-general-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Ottó Havasvölgyi
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 7:38 AM
To: Magnus Hagander
Cc: Pg - General
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Moving PostgreSQL data directory on Windows

Hello,

Ok. I did not set any security on the machine. Only I have access to it. Now
I have done this:

0. Registry is modified (yesterday)
1. Restart today
2. Modify registry to the old value
3. Start PostgreSQL -> pg_ctl and postmaster are running (they are in the
task list), but no postgres 4. "pg_ctl status" says that neither postmaster
nor postgres are running. No new entry in event log.
5. Stop with "pg_ctl stop" -> it says "Could not send stop signal (PID
3624): no such process". There is really no such PID.
6. Restart Windows -> the same as before 7. Stop PostgreSQL from the Sart
menu -> it took a half minute, and now only postmaster is running.
8. pg_ctl unregister -N "pgsql-8.0" -> seems it succeeded 9. Register on the
new location 10. Start with "net start "pgsql-8.0"" -> The service could not
be started, no event log entry. Perhaps because a postmaster isrunning.
11. Kill postmaster, I cannot stop it in other way.
12. Start from Start menu and "net start", but nothing happens. The same
message as in step 10.
13. Start from Control panel - Services -> Message: "The service started
then stopped."

Now I really don't know how to start this.
Perhaps reinstaling Postgres is easier.

14. Modified all this with the installer, but PostgreSQL does not start.
15. Backup data directory
16. Uninstall PostgreSQL
17. Install PostgreSQL 8.0.6 (this was installed before), as service, set
the same passwords.
18. Stop PostgreSQL
19. Move the backuped data directory to the location PostgreSQL uses.
20. Start PostgreSQL now, but it does not start this way. :(

What can be done to use my old data? It's not that critical, only tests.

Thanks,
Otto

2006/1/14, Magnus Hagander <mha@sollentuna.net>:

Ok, two things:

First, when using this method, yo uhave to reboot after editing the

registry. If you didn't do that, then that's your problem. Sorry, forgot to
mention that. If not, then looking at permissions as Rodrigo suggested is
the next step.

Second, there is of course a nicer way of doing this than editing the

registry, that I compleetley forgot about. It's still not as nice as you
would want, but it should work. You use pg_ctl unregister to remove the
service, and then pg_ctl register to register a new one with the new data
directory Doing this you won't hvae to reboot..

Perhaps this is something we should add to pg_ctl for 8.2? "pg_ctl

reconfigure" or something like that? What do others think?

//Magnus

-----Original Message-----
From: Ottó Havasvölgyi [mailto:havasvolgyi.otto@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Moving PostgreSQL data directory on Windows

Magnus,

It's a service, and it is 8.0.6. I have fixed the registry to this
value: "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0\bin\pg_ctl.exe"
runservice -N "pgsql-8.0" -D "E:\PostgreSQL\data\"

The service does not start.
This new directory definetely exists. But now there is no Event log
entry about the error. The log file says nothing because it is in
the data/pg_log directory.

Thanks,
Otto

2006/1/13, Magnus Hagander <mha@sollentuna.net>:

Hello,

I would like to move the data directory to another location.
I have done this:
1. Stop PostgreSQL
2. Move data directory
3. Create a PGDATA env. variable to the new location 4. Start
PostgreSQL

And it cannot start, because it cannot find postgresql.conf.
(in Event log) What should I do now?

Are you running it as a service:? If so you need to reconfigure
the service. Unfortunatly,the only way to do this is using

regedit. Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\pgsql-8.1

Open the value "ImagePath" and change the data directory.

//Magnus

---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
TIP 5: don't forget to increase your free space map settings

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.17/228 - Release Date: 1/12/2006

Jonel,

I have initialized a new cluster in the installation (you did not),
but that should not have mattered, should it?

Best Regards,
Otto

2006/1/15, Jonel Rienton <jonel@rientongroup.com>:

Hi Otto,

The reason I didn't initialized a new cluster is because I was going to use
the old cluster that I have, just pointed the data directory to that
location in the installation and everything worked fine so I was able to
roll back to my 8.1.1 install from 8.1.2.

You can set the old location during the installation right in the initial
setup when it ask you what would like to install, where the PgAdmin, pl/java
section shows. Just highlight the Data Directory and click on browse, then
point to the location of your cluster.

Regards,

Jonel Rienton

--
I know not english well, but I know 9 computer languages.
Pinoy Ako!

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-general-owner@postgresql.org
[mailto:pgsql-general-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Ottó Havasvölgyi
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 7:46 PM
To: Pg - General
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Moving PostgreSQL data directory on Windows

Jonel,

I have initialized a new cluster in the installation (you did not), but that
should not have mattered, should it?

Best Regards,
Otto

2006/1/15, Jonel Rienton <jonel@rientongroup.com>:

Hi,

I was just doing the same thing this morning, well somewhat the same;
anyways, what I did was

1. uninstall Postgres, and run the installation again(don't use the
upgrade.bat), same major version.
2. on the initial installation window, choose a new data directory by
clicking on browse, point to your new location of data directory (the
directory where you moved the data) 3. make sure you enable the run as
service 4. don't initialize cluster db, uncheck it.
5. continue with installation.
6. you should be able to start the service from the services msc.

Regards,

Jonel Rienton

--
I know not english well, but I know 9 computer languages.
Pinoy Ako!

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-general-owner@postgresql.org
[mailto:pgsql-general-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Ottó
Havasvölgyi
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 7:38 AM
To: Magnus Hagander
Cc: Pg - General
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Moving PostgreSQL data directory on Windows

Hello,

Ok. I did not set any security on the machine. Only I have access to
it. Now I have done this:

0. Registry is modified (yesterday)
1. Restart today
2. Modify registry to the old value
3. Start PostgreSQL -> pg_ctl and postmaster are running (they are in
the task list), but no postgres 4. "pg_ctl status" says that neither
postmaster nor postgres are running. No new entry in event log.
5. Stop with "pg_ctl stop" -> it says "Could not send stop signal (PID
3624): no such process". There is really no such PID.
6. Restart Windows -> the same as before 7. Stop PostgreSQL from the
Sart menu -> it took a half minute, and now only postmaster is running.
8. pg_ctl unregister -N "pgsql-8.0" -> seems it succeeded 9. Register
on the new location 10. Start with "net start "pgsql-8.0"" -> The
service could not be started, no event log entry. Perhaps because a

postmaster isrunning.

11. Kill postmaster, I cannot stop it in other way.
12. Start from Start menu and "net start", but nothing happens. The
same message as in step 10.
13. Start from Control panel - Services -> Message: "The service
started then stopped."

Now I really don't know how to start this.
Perhaps reinstaling Postgres is easier.

14. Modified all this with the installer, but PostgreSQL does not start.
15. Backup data directory
16. Uninstall PostgreSQL
17. Install PostgreSQL 8.0.6 (this was installed before), as service,
set the same passwords.
18. Stop PostgreSQL
19. Move the backuped data directory to the location PostgreSQL uses.
20. Start PostgreSQL now, but it does not start this way. :(

What can be done to use my old data? It's not that critical, only tests.

Thanks,
Otto

2006/1/14, Magnus Hagander <mha@sollentuna.net>:

Ok, two things:

First, when using this method, yo uhave to reboot after editing the

registry. If you didn't do that, then that's your problem. Sorry,
forgot to mention that. If not, then looking at permissions as Rodrigo
suggested is the next step.

Second, there is of course a nicer way of doing this than editing
the

registry, that I compleetley forgot about. It's still not as nice as
you would want, but it should work. You use pg_ctl unregister to
remove the service, and then pg_ctl register to register a new one
with the new data directory Doing this you won't hvae to reboot..

Perhaps this is something we should add to pg_ctl for 8.2? "pg_ctl

reconfigure" or something like that? What do others think?

//Magnus

-----Original Message-----
From: Ottó Havasvölgyi [mailto:havasvolgyi.otto@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Moving PostgreSQL data directory on Windows

Magnus,

It's a service, and it is 8.0.6. I have fixed the registry to this
value: "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0\bin\pg_ctl.exe"
runservice -N "pgsql-8.0" -D "E:\PostgreSQL\data\"

The service does not start.
This new directory definetely exists. But now there is no Event
log entry about the error. The log file says nothing because it is
in the data/pg_log directory.

Thanks,
Otto

2006/1/13, Magnus Hagander <mha@sollentuna.net>:

Hello,

I would like to move the data directory to another location.
I have done this:
1. Stop PostgreSQL
2. Move data directory
3. Create a PGDATA env. variable to the new location 4. Start
PostgreSQL

And it cannot start, because it cannot find postgresql.conf.
(in Event log) What should I do now?

Are you running it as a service:? If so you need to reconfigure
the service. Unfortunatly,the only way to do this is using

regedit. Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\pgsql-8.1

Open the value "ImagePath" and change the data directory.

//Magnus

---------------------------(end of
broadcast)---------------------------
TIP 5: don't forget to increase your free space map settings

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.17/228 - Release Date:
1/12/2006

---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
TIP 9: In versions below 8.0, the planner will ignore your desire to
choose an index scan if your joining column's datatypes do not
match

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.17/228 - Release Date: 1/12/2006