The last configuration file patch (I hope!) This one does it all.

PostgreSQL Extended Configuration Patch
Mohawk Software, 2003

This patch enables PostgreSQL to be far more flexible in
its configuration methodology.

Specifically, It adds two more command line parameters, "-C"
which specifies either the location of the postgres
configuration file or a directory containing the configuration
files, and "-R" which directs PostgreSQL to write its runtime
process ID to a standard file which can be used by control
scripts to control PostgreSQL.

A patched version of PostgreSQL will function as:

--- Configuration file ---
postmaster -C /etc/postgres/postgresql.conf

This will direct the postmaster program to use the
configuration file "/etc/postgres/postgresql.conf"

--- Configuration Directory ---
postmaster -C /etc/postgres

This will direct the postmaster program to search the
directory "/etc/postgres" for the standard configuration
file names: postgresql.conf, pg_hba.conf, and pg_ident.conf.

--- Run-time process ID ---
postmaster -R /var/run/postmaster.pid

This will direct PostgreSQL to write its process ID number
to a file, /var/run/postgresql.conf

--- postgresql.conf  options ---
Within the configuration file there  are five  additional
parameters: include, hba_conf,ident_conf, data_dir, and
runtime_pidfile.

They are used as:
include = '/etc/postgres/debug.conf'
data_dir = '/vol01/postgres'
hba_conf = '/etc/postgres/pg_hba_conf'
ident_conf = '/etc/postgres/pg_ident.conf'
runtime_pidfile = '/var/run/postgresql.conf'

The "-D" option on the command line overrides the "data_dir"
in the configuration file.

The "-R" option on the command line overrides the
"runtime_pidfile" in the configuration file.

If no hba_conf and/or ident_conf setting is specified, the default
$PGDATA/pg_hba.conf and/or $PGDATA/pg_ident.conf will be used.

If the "-C" option specifies a diretcory, pg_hba.conf and pg_ident.conf
files must be in the specified directory.

This patch is intended to move the PostgreSQL configuration out of the
data directory so that it can be modified and backed up.

This patch is also useful for running multiple servers with the same
parameters:

postmaster -C /etc/postgres/postgresql.conf -D /VOL01/postgres -p 5432
postmaster -C /etc/postgres/postgresql.conf -D /VOL02/postgres -p 5433

To apply the patch, enter your PostgreSQL source directory, and run:

cat pgec-PGVERSON.patch | patch -p 1



diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/libpq/hba.c postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/libpq/hba.c
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/libpq/hba.c    Sat Dec 14 13:49:43 2002
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/libpq/hba.c    Mon Feb 17 15:05:58 2003
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "miscadmin.h"
 #include "nodes/pg_list.h"
 #include "storage/fd.h"
+#include "utils/guc.h"


 #define IDENT_USERNAME_MAX 512
@@ -837,10 +838,22 @@
     if (hba_lines)
         free_lines(&hba_lines);

-    /* Put together the full pathname to the config file. */
-    bufsize = (strlen(DataDir) + strlen(CONF_FILE) + 2) * sizeof(char);
-    conf_file = (char *) palloc(bufsize);
-    snprintf(conf_file, bufsize, "%s/%s", DataDir, CONF_FILE);
+    /* Explicit HBA in config file */
+    if(explicit_hbafile && strlen(explicit_hbafile))
+    {
+        bufsize = strlen(explicit_hbafile)+1;
+        conf_file = (char *) palloc(bufsize);
+        strcpy(conf_file, explicit_hbafile);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        char *confloc = (explicit_isdir) ? explicit_pgconfig : DataDir;
+        /* put together the full pathname to the config file */
+        bufsize = (strlen(confloc) + strlen(CONF_FILE) + 2) * sizeof(char);
+        conf_file = (char *) palloc(bufsize);
+        snprintf(conf_file, bufsize, "%s/%s", confloc, CONF_FILE);
+    }
+    /* printf("hba_conf: %s\n", conf_file); */

     file = AllocateFile(conf_file, "r");
     if (file == NULL)
@@ -979,10 +992,22 @@
     if (ident_lines)
         free_lines(&ident_lines);

-    /* put together the full pathname to the map file */
-    bufsize = (strlen(DataDir) + strlen(USERMAP_FILE) + 2) * sizeof(char);
-    map_file = (char *) palloc(bufsize);
-    snprintf(map_file, bufsize, "%s/%s", DataDir, USERMAP_FILE);
+    /* Explicit IDENT in config file */
+    if(explicit_identfile && strlen(explicit_identfile))
+    {
+        bufsize = strlen(explicit_identfile)+1;
+        map_file = (char *) palloc(bufsize);
+        strcpy(map_file, explicit_identfile);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        /* put together the full pathname to the map file */
+        char *confloc = (explicit_isdir) ? explicit_pgconfig : DataDir;
+        bufsize = (strlen(confloc) + strlen(USERMAP_FILE) + 2) * sizeof(char);
+        map_file = (char *) palloc(bufsize);
+        snprintf(map_file, bufsize, "%s/%s", confloc, USERMAP_FILE);
+    }
+    /* printf("ident_conf: %s\n", map_file); */

     file = AllocateFile(map_file, "r");
     if (file == NULL)
diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c    Wed Jan 15 19:27:17 2003
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c    Tue Feb 18 18:38:11 2003
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@
     int            status;
     char        original_extraoptions[MAXPGPATH];
     char       *potential_DataDir = NULL;
+    char        *potential_pidfile = NULL;

     *original_extraoptions = '\0';

@@ -421,7 +422,7 @@

     opterr = 1;

-    while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "A:a:B:b:c:D:d:Fh:ik:lm:MN:no:p:Ss-:")) != -1)
+    while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "A:a:B:b:C:c:D:d:Fh:ik:lm:MN:no:p:R:Ss-:")) != -1)
     {
         switch (opt)
         {
@@ -441,6 +442,9 @@
             case 'b':
                 /* Can no longer set the backend executable file to use. */
                 break;
+            case 'C': // MLW
+                explicit_pgconfig = optarg;
+                break;
             case 'D':
                 potential_DataDir = optarg;
                 break;
@@ -505,6 +509,11 @@
             case 'p':
                 SetConfigOption("port", optarg, PGC_POSTMASTER, PGC_S_ARGV);
                 break;
+            case 'R':    /*
+                      * Write PID to a file for FHS compatibility
+                     */
+                potential_pidfile = optarg;
+                break;
             case 'S':

                 /*
@@ -564,14 +573,40 @@
         ExitPostmaster(1);
     }

+    if(explicit_pgconfig)
+    {
+        ProcessConfigFile(PGC_POSTMASTER);
+        if(!potential_DataDir && pgdatadir)
+            potential_DataDir = pgdatadir;
+        checkDataDir(potential_DataDir);    /* issues error messages */
+        SetDataDir(potential_DataDir);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        /*
+         * Now we can set the data directory, and then read postgresql.conf.
+         */
+        checkDataDir(potential_DataDir);    /* issues error messages */
+        SetDataDir(potential_DataDir);
+        ProcessConfigFile(PGC_POSTMASTER);
+    }
+
     /*
-     * Now we can set the data directory, and then read postgresql.conf.
+     * Write Postmaster's PID for this systems that
+     * want it.
      */
-    checkDataDir(potential_DataDir);    /* issues error messages */
-    SetDataDir(potential_DataDir);
-
-    ProcessConfigFile(PGC_POSTMASTER);
-
+    if(potential_pidfile == NULL)
+        potential_pidfile = runtime_pidfile;
+
+    if(potential_pidfile)
+    {
+        FILE *fpidfile = fopen(potential_pidfile, "w");
+        if(fpidfile)
+        {
+            fprintf(fpidfile, "%d\n", MyProcPid);
+            fclose(fpidfile);
+        }
+    }
     /*
      * Check for invalid combinations of GUC settings.
      */
diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.c postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.c
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.c    Mon Feb  3 15:22:34 2003
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.c    Mon Feb 17 15:05:58 2003
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@

 /* Scanner skeleton version:
  * $Header: /home/daffy/u0/vern/flex/RCS/flex.skl,v 2.91 96/09/10 16:58:48 vern Exp $
- * $FreeBSD: src/usr.bin/lex/flex.skl,v 1.4 1999/10/27 07:56:44 obrien Exp $
  */

 #define FLEX_SCANNER
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@
 #define YY_FLEX_MINOR_VERSION 5

 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <unistd.h>


 /* cfront 1.2 defines "c_plusplus" instead of "__cplusplus" */
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #ifdef __cplusplus

 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include <unistd.h>

 /* Use prototypes in function declarations. */
 #define YY_USE_PROTOS
@@ -443,7 +442,7 @@
 char *GUC_scanstr(char *);
 #define YY_NEVER_INTERACTIVE 1
 #define YY_NO_UNPUT 1
-#line 447 "lex.GUC_yy.c"
+#line 446 "lex.GUC_yy.c"

 /* Macros after this point can all be overridden by user definitions in
  * section 1.
@@ -591,13 +590,13 @@
 YY_DECL
     {
     register GUC_yy_state_type GUC_yy_current_state;
-    register char *GUC_yy_cp, *GUC_yy_bp;
+    register char *GUC_yy_cp = NULL, *GUC_yy_bp = NULL;
     register int GUC_yy_act;

 #line 71 "guc-file.l"


-#line 601 "lex.GUC_yy.c"
+#line 600 "lex.GUC_yy.c"

     if ( GUC_yy_init )
         {
@@ -738,7 +737,7 @@
 #line 86 "guc-file.l"
 ECHO;
     YY_BREAK
-#line 742 "lex.GUC_yy.c"
+#line 741 "lex.GUC_yy.c"
 case YY_STATE_EOF(INITIAL):
     GUC_yyterminate();

@@ -1302,11 +1301,6 @@
     }


-#ifndef YY_ALWAYS_INTERACTIVE
-#ifndef YY_NEVER_INTERACTIVE
-extern int isatty YY_PROTO(( int ));
-#endif
-#endif

 #ifdef YY_USE_PROTOS
 void GUC_yy_init_buffer( YY_BUFFER_STATE b, FILE *file )
@@ -1658,51 +1652,27 @@
     }
 }

+#define ELEVEL_FROM_CONTEXT(ctx)    (ctx == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR

-/*
- * Official function to read and process the configuration file. The
- * parameter indicates in what context the file is being read
- * (postmaster startup, backend startup, or SIGHUP). All options
- * mentioned in the configuration file are set to new values. This
- * function does not return if an error occurs. If an error occurs, no
- * values will be changed.
- */
-void
-ProcessConfigFile(GucContext context)
+static void
+ReadConfigFile(char *filename, GucContext context)
 {
     int token, parse_state;
     char *opt_name, *opt_value;
-    char *filename;
     struct name_value_pair *item, *head, *tail;
-    int elevel;
-    FILE * fp;
-
-    Assert(context == PGC_POSTMASTER || context == PGC_BACKEND
-        || context == PGC_SIGHUP);
-    Assert(DataDir);
-    elevel = (context == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR;
+    FILE *fp;
+    int elevel = ELEVEL_FROM_CONTEXT(context);

-    /*
-     * Open file
-     */
-    filename = malloc(strlen(DataDir) + strlen(CONFIG_FILENAME) + 2);
-    if (filename == NULL)
-    {
-        elog(elevel, "out of memory");
-        return;
-    }
-    sprintf(filename, "%s/" CONFIG_FILENAME, DataDir);
-
-    fp = AllocateFile(filename, "r");
-    if (!fp)
-    {
+        fp = AllocateFile(filename, "r");
+    if (!fp)
+        {
+            /* File not found is fine */
+            if (errno != ENOENT)
+                    elog(elevel, "could not read configuration file %s: %s",
+                filename, strerror(errno));
         free(filename);
-        /* File not found is fine */
-        if (errno != ENOENT)
-            elog(elevel, "could not read configuration file `" CONFIG_FILENAME "': %s", strerror(errno));
         return;
-    }
-
+        }
     /*
      * Parse
      */
@@ -1731,7 +1701,8 @@
                     token = GUC_yylex();

                 if (token != GUC_ID && token != GUC_STRING &&
-                    token != GUC_INTEGER && token != GUC_REAL &&
+                    token != GUC_INTEGER &&
+                    token != GUC_REAL &&
                     token != GUC_UNQUOTED_STRING)
                     goto parse_error;
                 opt_value = strdup(GUC_yytext);
@@ -1775,7 +1746,6 @@
         }

     FreeFile(fp);
-    free(filename);

     /*
      * Check if all options are valid
@@ -1798,7 +1768,6 @@

  parse_error:
     FreeFile(fp);
-    free(filename);
     free_name_value_list(head);
     elog(elevel, CONFIG_FILENAME ":%u: syntax error, token=\"%s\"",
         ConfigFileLineno,GUC_yytext);
@@ -1806,12 +1775,78 @@

  out_of_memory:
     FreeFile(fp);
-    free(filename);
     free_name_value_list(head);
     elog(elevel, "out of memory");
     return;
 }
+/*
+ * Official function to read and process the configuration file. The
+ * parameter indicates in what context the file is being read
+ * (postmaster startup, backend startup, or SIGHUP). All options
+ * mentioned in the configuration file are set to new values. This
+ * function does not return if an error occurs. If an error occurs, no
+ * values will be changed.
+ */
+void
+ProcessConfigFile(GucContext context)
+{
+    char *filename;
+
+    Assert(context == PGC_POSTMASTER || context == PGC_BACKEND
+        || context == PGC_SIGHUP);

+    /* Added for explicit config file */
+    if(explicit_pgconfig)
+    {
+        struct stat sb;
+
+        if(stat(explicit_pgconfig, &sb)!=0)
+        {
+            int elevel = (context == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR;
+            elog(elevel, "Invalid configuration parameter");
+            return ;
+        }
+
+
+        if((sb.st_mode & S_IFDIR) == S_IFDIR)
+        {
+            /* This will cause a small one time memory leak
+             * if the user also specifies hba_conf,
+             * ident_conf, and data_dir
+             */
+            filename = malloc(strlen(explicit_pgconfig) + strlen(CONFIG_FILENAME) + 2);
+            sprintf(filename, "%s/%s", explicit_pgconfig, CONFIG_FILENAME);
+            explicit_isdir = true;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            /*
+             * Use explicit file
+             */
+            filename = strdup(explicit_pgconfig);
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        /*
+         * Use environmental config
+         */
+        filename = malloc(strlen(DataDir) + strlen(CONFIG_FILENAME) + 2);
+        sprintf(filename, "%s/%s", DataDir, CONFIG_FILENAME);
+    }
+
+    if (filename == NULL)
+    {
+        int elevel = (context == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR;
+        elog(elevel, "out of memory");
+        return;
+    }
+    /* printf("Using: %s\n", filename); */
+
+    ReadConfigFile(filename, context);
+
+    free(filename);
+}


 /* ----------------
diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.l postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.l
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.l    Tue Jul 30 12:33:08 2002
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/guc-file.l    Mon Feb 17 15:05:58 2003
@@ -116,51 +116,27 @@
     }
 }

+#define ELEVEL_FROM_CONTEXT(ctx)    (ctx == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR

-/*
- * Official function to read and process the configuration file. The
- * parameter indicates in what context the file is being read
- * (postmaster startup, backend startup, or SIGHUP). All options
- * mentioned in the configuration file are set to new values. This
- * function does not return if an error occurs. If an error occurs, no
- * values will be changed.
- */
-void
-ProcessConfigFile(GucContext context)
+static void
+ReadConfigFile(char *filename, GucContext context)
 {
     int token, parse_state;
     char *opt_name, *opt_value;
-    char *filename;
     struct name_value_pair *item, *head, *tail;
-    int elevel;
-    FILE * fp;
-
-    Assert(context == PGC_POSTMASTER || context == PGC_BACKEND
-        || context == PGC_SIGHUP);
-    Assert(DataDir);
-    elevel = (context == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR;
+    FILE *fp;
+    int elevel = ELEVEL_FROM_CONTEXT(context);

-    /*
-     * Open file
-     */
-    filename = malloc(strlen(DataDir) + strlen(CONFIG_FILENAME) + 2);
-    if (filename == NULL)
-    {
-        elog(elevel, "out of memory");
-        return;
-    }
-    sprintf(filename, "%s/" CONFIG_FILENAME, DataDir);
-
-    fp = AllocateFile(filename, "r");
-    if (!fp)
-    {
+        fp = AllocateFile(filename, "r");
+    if (!fp)
+        {
+            /* File not found is fine */
+            if (errno != ENOENT)
+                    elog(elevel, "could not read configuration file %s: %s",
+                filename, strerror(errno));
         free(filename);
-        /* File not found is fine */
-        if (errno != ENOENT)
-            elog(elevel, "could not read configuration file `" CONFIG_FILENAME "': %s", strerror(errno));
         return;
-    }
-
+        }
     /*
      * Parse
      */
@@ -189,7 +165,8 @@
                     token = yylex();

                 if (token != GUC_ID && token != GUC_STRING &&
-                    token != GUC_INTEGER && token != GUC_REAL &&
+                    token != GUC_INTEGER &&
+                    token != GUC_REAL &&
                     token != GUC_UNQUOTED_STRING)
                     goto parse_error;
                 opt_value = strdup(yytext);
@@ -233,7 +210,6 @@
         }

     FreeFile(fp);
-    free(filename);

     /*
      * Check if all options are valid
@@ -256,7 +232,6 @@

  parse_error:
     FreeFile(fp);
-    free(filename);
     free_name_value_list(head);
     elog(elevel, CONFIG_FILENAME ":%u: syntax error, token=\"%s\"",
         ConfigFileLineno,yytext);
@@ -264,12 +239,78 @@

  out_of_memory:
     FreeFile(fp);
-    free(filename);
     free_name_value_list(head);
     elog(elevel, "out of memory");
     return;
 }
+/*
+ * Official function to read and process the configuration file. The
+ * parameter indicates in what context the file is being read
+ * (postmaster startup, backend startup, or SIGHUP). All options
+ * mentioned in the configuration file are set to new values. This
+ * function does not return if an error occurs. If an error occurs, no
+ * values will be changed.
+ */
+void
+ProcessConfigFile(GucContext context)
+{
+    char *filename;
+
+    Assert(context == PGC_POSTMASTER || context == PGC_BACKEND
+        || context == PGC_SIGHUP);
+
+    /* Added for explicit config file */
+    if(explicit_pgconfig)
+    {
+        struct stat sb;
+
+        if(stat(explicit_pgconfig, &sb)!=0)
+        {
+            int elevel = (context == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR;
+            elog(elevel, "Invalid configuration parameter");
+            return ;
+        }
+
+
+        if((sb.st_mode & S_IFDIR) == S_IFDIR)
+        {
+            /* This will cause a small one time memory leak
+             * if the user also specifies hba_conf,
+             * ident_conf, and data_dir
+             */
+            filename = malloc(strlen(explicit_pgconfig) + strlen(CONFIG_FILENAME) + 2);
+            sprintf(filename, "%s/%s", explicit_pgconfig, CONFIG_FILENAME);
+            explicit_isdir = true;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            /*
+             * Use explicit file
+             */
+            filename = strdup(explicit_pgconfig);
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        /*
+         * Use environmental config
+         */
+        filename = malloc(strlen(DataDir) + strlen(CONFIG_FILENAME) + 2);
+        sprintf(filename, "%s/%s", DataDir, CONFIG_FILENAME);
+    }
+
+    if (filename == NULL)
+    {
+        int elevel = (context == PGC_SIGHUP) ? DEBUG3 : ERROR;
+        elog(elevel, "out of memory");
+        return;
+    }
+    /* printf("Using: %s\n", filename); */

+    ReadConfigFile(filename, context);
+
+    free(filename);
+}


 /* ----------------
diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c    Tue Jan 28 13:04:13 2003
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c    Tue Feb 18 18:15:37 2003
@@ -51,6 +51,13 @@
 #include "utils/pg_locale.h"
 #include "pgstat.h"

+/* Added for config file only startup MLW */
+char *runtime_pidfile=NULL;
+char *explicit_pgconfig = NULL;
+char *explicit_hbafile = NULL;
+char *explicit_identfile = NULL;
+bool explicit_isdir=false;
+char *pgdatadir = NULL;

 /* XXX these should be in other modules' header files */
 extern bool Log_connections;
@@ -113,6 +120,7 @@
 char       *client_min_messages_str = NULL;
 const char    client_min_messages_str_default[] = "notice";

+static void ReadConfigFile(char *filename, GucContext context);

 #ifndef PG_KRB_SRVTAB
 #define PG_KRB_SRVTAB ""
@@ -146,7 +154,8 @@
     PGC_BOOL,
     PGC_INT,
     PGC_REAL,
-    PGC_STRING
+    PGC_STRING,
+    PGC_FUNCTION
 };

 /* Generic fields applicable to all types of variables */
@@ -239,6 +248,13 @@
     char       *tentative_val;
 };

+struct config_function
+{
+    struct config_generic gen;
+    void (*function)(char *param, GucContext context);
+};
+
+
 /* Macros for freeing malloc'd pointers only if appropriate to do so */
 /* Some of these tests are probably redundant, but be safe ... */
 #define SET_STRING_VARIABLE(rec, newval) \
@@ -853,10 +869,36 @@
     },

     {
+        {"data_dir", PGC_POSTMASTER}, &pgdatadir,
+        "", NULL, NULL
+    },
+
+    {
+        {"hba_conf", PGC_POSTMASTER}, &explicit_hbafile,
+        "", NULL, NULL
+    },
+
+    {
+        {"ident_conf", PGC_POSTMASTER}, &explicit_identfile,
+        "", NULL, NULL
+    },
+    {
+        {"runtime_pidfile", PGC_POSTMASTER}, &runtime_pidfile,
+        "", NULL, NULL
+    },
+
+    {
         {NULL, 0}, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL
     }
 };

+
+static struct config_function ConfigureFunctions[] =
+{
+    { {"include", PGC_POSTMASTER}, ReadConfigFile},
+    { {NULL,0}, NULL}
+};
+
 /******** end of options list ********/


@@ -919,6 +961,12 @@
         conf->gen.vartype = PGC_STRING;
         num_vars++;
     }
+    for(i = 0; ConfigureFunctions[i].gen.name; i++)
+    {
+        struct config_function *conf = &ConfigureFunctions[i];
+        conf->gen.vartype = PGC_FUNCTION;
+        num_vars++;
+    }

     guc_vars = (struct config_generic **)
         malloc(num_vars * sizeof(struct config_generic *));
@@ -939,6 +987,9 @@
     for (i = 0; ConfigureNamesString[i].gen.name; i++)
         guc_vars[num_vars++] = &ConfigureNamesString[i].gen;

+    for (i = 0; ConfigureFunctions[i].gen.name; i++)
+        guc_vars[num_vars++] = &ConfigureFunctions[i].gen;
+
     qsort((void *) guc_vars, num_vars, sizeof(struct config_generic *),
           guc_var_compare);

@@ -1135,6 +1186,8 @@
                     conf->session_val = str;
                     break;
                 }
+            case PGC_FUNCTION: /* Nothing to do */
+                break;
         }
     }

@@ -1280,6 +1333,8 @@
                     guc_dirty = true;
                     break;
                 }
+            case PGC_FUNCTION: /* Nothing to do */
+                break;
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1421,6 +1476,8 @@
                     conf->gen.status = 0;
                     break;
                 }
+            case    PGC_FUNCTION: /* Nothing to do */
+                break;
         }
     }

@@ -1684,6 +1741,17 @@
      */
     switch (record->vartype)
     {
+        case PGC_FUNCTION:
+            if(!DoIt)
+            {
+                /* During the "checking" stage of configuration
+                 * read, run functions
+                 */
+                struct config_function *fn =
+                    (struct config_function *)record;
+                fn->function((char *)value, context);
+            }
+            break;
         case PGC_BOOL:
             {
                 struct config_bool *conf = (struct config_bool *) record;
@@ -2063,6 +2131,9 @@

         case PGC_STRING:
             return *((struct config_string *) record)->variable;
+        case PGC_FUNCTION:
+            /* Should never really happen */
+            return NULL;
     }
     return NULL;
 }
@@ -2097,6 +2168,9 @@

         case PGC_STRING:
             return ((struct config_string *) record)->reset_val;
+        case PGC_FUNCTION:
+            /* Should never really happen */
+            return NULL;
     }
     return NULL;
 }
diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample    Mon Jan 27 22:44:09 2003
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample    Tue Feb 18 18:32:46 2003
@@ -23,6 +23,25 @@

 #========================================================================

+# Allows PostgreSQL to include another file
+# include = '/somedir/pgdefs.conf'
+
+# Allows PostgreSQL to use a pg_hba.conf file
+# which is not in the database directory.
+# hba_conf = '/etc/postgres/pg_hba.conf'
+
+# Allows PostgreSQL to use a pg_ident.conf file
+# which is not in the database directory.
+# ident_conf = '/etc/postgres/pg_ident.conf'
+
+# Allows Postgres to find its data directory
+# from this configuration file.
+# data_dir = '/RAID0/postgres'
+
+# Allows Postgres to write a small file
+# containing a number, on one line, that
+# has its PID. This is used for init scripts
+runtime_pidfile= '/var/run/postgresql.pid'

 #
 #    Connection Parameters
diff -u -r postgresql-7.3.2/src/include/utils/guc.h postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/include/utils/guc.h
--- postgresql-7.3.2/src/include/utils/guc.h    Mon Oct 21 14:57:35 2002
+++ postgresql-7.3.2.ec/src/include/utils/guc.h    Tue Feb 18 18:15:42 2003
@@ -137,5 +137,12 @@
 extern char *client_min_messages_str;

 extern const char client_min_messages_str_default[];
+/* Added MLW */
+extern char *runtime_pidfile;
+extern char *explicit_pgconfig;
+extern char *explicit_hbafile;
+extern char *explicit_identfile;
+extern bool explicit_isdir;
+extern char *pgdatadir;

 #endif   /* GUC_H */