Guide to Installing PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 18.04

Introduction to PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 18.04

PostgreSQL is a robust, open-source relational database management system widely recognized for its reliability, feature set, and unbeatable performance. This comprehensive guide walks you through the installation process of PostgreSQL on an Ubuntu 18.04 server, covering essential database administration tasks.

Prerequisites

Before you proceed, you will need a root user account with the necessary permissions on your system. This guide assumes you are logged in with an account that has the appropriate privileges.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Installing PostgreSQL on your Ubuntu 18.04 machine is a straightforward process. Let’s begin by updating your package manager and then installing PostgreSQL with the preferred additional features.

Updating the Package Manager

To ensure you have the latest versions of all packages, start by updating the package index.

sudo apt update

Installing PostgreSQL

Next, install PostgreSQL and the contrib packages using the apt package manager.

sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib

The installation of the basic PostgreSQL package will install the PostgreSQL server and client, whereas the contrib package includes additional features and functionalities.

Verifying the Installation

After installation, you can verify your PostgreSQL installation by checking the PostgreSQL version.

sudo -u postgres psql -c 'SELECT version()'

This command will display the version of PostgreSQL installed on your server, confirming the installation was successful.

Understanding PostgreSQL Roles and Databases

Once PostgreSQL is installed, you need to understand the basics of PostgreSQL roles and databases. Roles in PostgreSQL can be thought of as users or groups, with varying levels of access and permissions to the databases.

PostgreSQL Authentication Methods

PostgreSQL supports several authentication methods, including:

Ident: Used for TCP/IP connections. Trust: Allows connections without a password, given criteria in pg_ Password: Requires a password for authentication. Peer: Uses the operating system's authentication for connections.

To log into PostgreSQL, switch to the postgres user and use the psql utility.

sudo su - postgrespsql

Enter your database command and, when done, type q to exit.

Conclusion

This tutorial has provided a step-by-step guide to installing and administering PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 18.04. For more in-depth details about PostgreSQL, such as advanced queries and management techniques, visit our complete SQL tutorial.