PostgreSQL server does not start

Question

I instal pg server and tools using standard package from official site( MacOs ).

Everything worked fine, until I changed a configure file - postgresql.conf.

shared_buffers = 32MB To shared_buffers = 128MB

Then, when I restarted the system, server does not starts.

Why it's happens?

May be because file owner is changed? Was postgres - became 'root'. If Yes, how can I fix it?

Most probably it's the file ownership. Make sure the postgres user is allowed to read it. AFAIK MacOS is "just" a unix so using chown should do the job. — user330315
– user330315, Commented Apr 24, 2012 at 15:35
I change file owner/group/permission, but server do not want to start(. If i tried to start server from terminal i get next message 'code' $ /Library/PostgreSQL/9.1/bin/postgres postgres does not know where to find the server configuration file. You must specify the --config-file or -D invocation option or set the PGDATA environment variable. 'code' — kaa
– kaa, Commented Apr 24, 2012 at 16:21
At last server started) The problem was not only in permissions of .conf file, but in size of shared_buffers too. In consol I found a message from server 'could not create shared memory segment invalid argument postgres' when it try to start. So I decide to commented this param in .conf file - and server started working. So I will reed tutorial about cash size more carefully, before change some params :). If any body gives additional informations about cache size of postgre server, and how it affect to speed of working, I will be very grateful. Thanks — kaa
– kaa, Commented Apr 24, 2012 at 18:41
128MB should not be any problem for the size of the shared buffers. There must something else going wrong — user330315
– user330315, Commented Apr 24, 2012 at 19:12

Alex Howansky · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-24 15:17:37Z

3

You probably need to adjust your kernel settings to match the new size you requested.

answered Apr 24, 2012 at 15:17

Alex Howansky

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2 Comments

Thanks, I will study this article. But if I will return the value of params - server still does not start.

For 128MB shared buffers, a change in the kernel parameters should not be necessary