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<Chapter Id="runtime">

which will leave the server running in the foreground. This must be

done while logged into the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> user

account. Without <option>-D</option>, the server will try to use

the data directoryin the environment variable <envar>PGDATA</envar>.

Ifneither of these succeed, it will fail.

the data directorynamed by the environment variable <envar>PGDATA</envar>.

Ifthat variable is not provided either, it will fail.

</para>

<para>

To start the <command>postmaster</command> in the

background, use the usual shell syntax:

Normally it is better to start the <command>postmaster</command> in the

background. For this, use the usual shell syntax:

<screen>

$ <userinput>postmaster -D /usr/local/pgsql/data &gt;logfile 2&gt;&amp;1 &amp;</userinput>

</screen>

It isanimportant to store the server's <systemitem>stdout</> and

It is important to store the server's <systemitem>stdout</> and

<systemitem>stderr</> output somewhere, as shown above. It will help

for auditing purposes and to diagnose problems. (See <xref

linkend="logfile-maintenance"> for a more thorough discussion of log

<para>

Normally, you will want to start the database server when the

computer boots.<indexterm><primary>booting</><secondary>starting

the server during</></> Autostart scripts are operating

system-specific.There are a few distributed with

the server during</></> Autostart scripts are operating-system-specific.

There are a few distributed with

<productname>PostgreSQL</productname> in the

<filename>contrib/start-scripts</> directory.This may require root

privileges.

<filename>contrib/start-scripts</> directory.Installing one will require

rootprivileges.

</para>

<para>

</para>

<para>

Here are a few more operatingsystemspecific suggestions. (Always

replace these withthe proper installation directory and the user

name.)

Here are a few more operating-system-specific suggestions. (In each

case be sure to usethe proper installation directory and user

name where we show generic values.)

<itemizedlist>

<listitem>