Use a command like ( netstat -ln; ps -ef ) | egrep '(postgres)|(postmaster)|(5432)'
to try to determine whether or not an instance of the postgres server is running.
If the postmaster is not running, remove the postmaster.pid file and restart the database. While I don't use the Greenplum database, I see that instructions are here: Starting and Stopping the Greenplum Database. Do not remove the postmaster.pid file without making sure the database is not running, and note that removing the postmaster.pid file without starting the database is pointless.
It may be wise to open your postgresql.conf file and see if the listen_addresses, port, unix_socket_directory, unix_socket_group, and unix_socket_permissions settings might be a source of issues.
Since the error message referenced specifically mentions the socket file, look most closely at unix_socket_directory, unix_socket_group, and unix_socket_permissions.
If unix_socket_directory is pointing somewhere other than /tmp, then various workarounds exist.
Alternatively, and presuming that the server is running, one might try to locate the socket file without looking in the postgresql.conf file, though this might make it a bit harder to address permissions, port, etc. issues. A tool like locate
, find
, etc., may be used in conjunction with sudo
or by the root user.
$ sudo find /tmp /var -name .s.PGSQL.5432
Presuming that the location of the .s.PGSQL.5432 file issue is the root cause of your problem, specifying the socket file location on the psql
command-line is probably the most straightforward workaround. In example, if the *.s.PGSQL.5432 file is in /var/pgsql_socket directory as it is on some systems, try this, but, of course, use the actual directory where .s.PGSQL.5432 is located:
$ pgsql -h /var/pgsql_socket
If the .s.PGSQL.5432 file IS in /tmp, then the problem is more likely one of permissions, and consulting the postgresql.conf file is advised, and probably the user attempting the psql
command will have to be added to a group that has access to the socket file. (Remember, log out and back in after changing group membership.)
Though the page does not necessarily seem to directly relate to this issue, do consider the Accessing the Database help as needed.