<term><option>--pgdata <replaceable class="parameter">datadir</replaceable></option></term>

<listitem>

<para>

Specifies the file system location of the database files. If

Specifies the file system location of the databaseconfigurationfiles. If

this is omitted, the environment variable

<envar>PGDATA</envar> is used.

</para>

<term><option>-D <replaceable class="parameter">datadir</replaceable></option></term>

<listitem>

<para>

Specifies the file system location of thedata directory or

configurationfile(s). See

Specifies the file system location of thedatabase

configurationfiles. See

<xref linkend="runtime-config-file-locations"> for details.

</para>

</listitem>

</para>

<para>

All the data needed for a database cluster is stored within the cluster's data

Traditionally, the configuration and data files used by a database

cluster are stored together within the cluster's data

directory, commonly referred to as <varname>PGDATA</> (after the name of the

environment variable that can be used to define it). A common location for

<varname>PGDATA</> is <filename>/var/lib/pgsql/data</>. Multiple clusters,

<filename>postgresql.conf</filename>, <filename>pg_hba.conf</filename>, and

<filename>pg_ident.conf</filename> are traditionally stored in

<varname>PGDATA</> (although in <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> 8.0 and

later, it is possible tokeep them elsewhere).

later, it is possible toplace them elsewhere).

</para>

<table tocentry="1" id="pgdata-contents-table">