Re: super beginner setting up postgresql for the first time

On Thu, Dec 23, 2010 at 9:05 AM, Benjamin Golder
<benjamin.j.golder@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am so glad there is a novice list, because as a brand new user, I have
> plenty of naïve questions.

> I then tried to create a new user account with the name postgres but
> received an error saying that a user already existed with that name, even
> though no user by that name is listed anywhere.

The postgres user is created as the default OS user that will own the
PostgreSQL processes and files.  Also there is a postgres db user that
is "like" a root/administrator users for the RDBMS.

If your very new to postgresql and you want to learn, the first thing
that you'll need to do is turn off some of the security features until
you learn your way around the system a bit better.  Later you'll want
to reapply these features for protection.

First off, you want to make postgres "trust" you.  You can to this by
modifying the pg_hba.conf file and then restarting the postgresql
service.

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.0/interactive/auth-pg-hba-conf.html

You can test if your permission changes allow you access by using the
psql the command line client application that comes with postgresql.

This will be the first set to get you started.

--
Regards,
Richard Broersma Jr.