PostgreSQL provides an alternative to MySQL for running database applications. Many popular applications today have support for both. The (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server v3.5 includes MySQL 5, however PostgreSQL support is not included. This tutorial will guide you through the simple steps of installing PostgreSQL, and having Plesk recognize it as a valid database source.

Step 1 - Download the needed RPM files:

You will need two RPM files in order to set this up. Log in to your server as root over SSH. Run the following commands, one line at a time:

wget http://mirrors.kernel.org/centos/5/os/i386/CentOS/postgresql-8.1.18-2.el5_4.1.i386.rpm
wget http://mirrors.kernel.org/centos/5/os/i386/CentOS/postgresql-server-8.1.18-2.el5_4.1.i386.rpm

Step 2 - Install the downloaded RPM files:

rpm -ivh postgresql-8.1.18-2.el5_4.1.i386.rpm
rpm -ivh postgresql-server-8.1.18-2.el5_4.1.i386.rpm

Step 3 - Start the PostgreSQL service and register it as a valid server source within Plesk:

This can be done by issuing the following commands. Once again, make sure to do it one line at a time:

/etc/init.d/postgresql start
/usr/local/psa/bin/database-server --update-server localhost:5432 -type postgresql -admin admin -passwd `cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` 

  You should now be able to create new databases through Plesk and select PostgreSQL as the database type.

Notes/Supplemental Resources:

• This method works well for (dv) 3.5 only. If you are on a (dv) 3.0, please read our User Forums for more information as we have this topic covered in there.
  

Revisions:

06-15-2010: Updated RPM links.