<para>

The existence of this file in the data directory is used to help

<application>pg_ctl</application> determine if the server is

currently running or not.

currently running.

</para>

</listitem>

</varlistentry>

</para>

<para>

An example of starting the server,blockinguntil the serverhas

come up is:

An example of starting the server,and waitinguntil the serveris

accepting connection:

<screen>

<prompt>$</prompt> <userinput>pg_ctl -w start</userinput>

</screen>

<refsect2 id="R2-APP-PGCTL-4">

<title>Stopping the Server</title>

<para>

To stop the server, use:

<screen>

<prompt>$</prompt> <userinput>pg_ctl stop</userinput>

</screen>

stops the server. Using the<option>-m</option>switch allowsone

to control<emphasis>how</emphasis> thebackend shuts down.

The<option>-m</option>option allowscontrol over

<emphasis>how</emphasis> theserver shuts down.

</para>

</refsect2>

<para>

Restarting the server is almost equivalent to stopping the

server and starting it again

server and starting it again,

except that <command>pg_ctl</command> saves and reuses the command line options that

were passed to the previously running instance. To restart

the server in the simplest form, use:

<para>

To restart the server,

waiting for it to shut down andcome up again:

waiting for it to shut down andrestart:

<screen>

<prompt>$</prompt> <userinput>pg_ctl -w restart</userinput>

</screen>

</para>

<para>

To restart using port 5433 anddisabling <function>fsync</>after restarting:

To restart using port 5433 anddisabe <function>fsync</>upon restart:

<screen>

<prompt>$</prompt> <userinput>pg_ctl -o "-F -p 5433" restart</userinput>

</screen>

<title>Showing the Server Status</title>

<para>

Here isasample status output from

Here is sample status output from

<application>pg_ctl</application>:

<screen>

<prompt>$</prompt> <userinput>pg_ctl status</userinput>