PostgreSQL server wouldn't shutdown on Lion (Mac OS 10.7)

Question

I installed PostgreSQL using Homebrew on Lion. It starts okay but wouldn't shutdown. I tried:

$ #started with
$ pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres -l /usr/local/var/postgres/server.log start
$ #tried stoping with
$ pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres stop -m immediate
waiting for server to shut down................................... failed
pg_ctl: server does not shut down

I fixed this issue by deleting the Launch Agent:

launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.postgresql.postgres.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.postgresql.postgres.plist

That is the correct fix. It worked for me on OS X Snow Leopard as well. You don't need to delete the plist though, you just have to do the unload. You can re-start it by issuing: `$ launchctl load -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.postgresql.postgres.plist` — stantonk, Dec 23 '11 at 06:37
@Greg: Please add your solution as an answer and accept it, so that this questions doesn't show up on the list of unanswered questions. — kgrittn, Apr 30 '12 at 16:39
if installed with homebrew it may look something like this: `~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist` — random-forest-cat, Nov 16 '13 at 18:56

score 64 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 30 '12 at 11:17

64

launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.postgresql.postgres.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.postgresql.postgres.plist

edited Jun 30 '12 at 11:17

vyegorov

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answered Jun 30 '12 at 08:44

Greg

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This worked for me too, except my Launch Agent path was: `~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist` – Shevaun Apr 18 '13 at 22:59
Thanks, this worked for me too. I also had to use the homebrew path posted by Shevaun – Paul Oliver May 04 '13 at 04:20
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What causes this issue to happen in the first place? – Kyle Macey May 07 '14 at 02:16
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Rather obscure way of shutting down a server. – Eric Walker Sep 22 '14 at 01:05
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launchctl unload + rebooting did it form me, no need to remove the LaunchAgent – Arnaud Oct 22 '15 at 16:37

score 12 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 07 '16 at 23:16

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Shutting down PostgreSQL Server with -m immediate is a dangerous way to do it, because “Immediate” mode will abort all server processes without a clean shutdown.

This will lead to a recovery run on restart. Try to shutdown PostgreSQL with parameter -m fast instead. "Fast” mode does not wait for clients to disconnect and will terminate an online backup in progress. All active transactions are rolled back and clients are forcibly disconnected

pg_ctl stop -D /usr/local/var/postgres -m fast

For more information about pg_ctl please visit http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.0/static/app-pg-ctl.html

edited Jul 07 '16 at 23:16

the Tin Man

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answered Aug 05 '11 at 01:34

francs

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The problem was about clean shutdown but rather about the server shutting down. Any way, its fixed and I've updated the solution in the question. – Greg Aug 05 '11 at 06:43

SathishVenkat · Answer 3 · 2015-06-22T08:23:15.963

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This works for me

 pg_ctl -D /Library/PostgreSQL/9.2/data/ start

 pg_ctl -D /Library/PostgreSQL/9.2/data/ stop

Source https://sites.google.com/site/amaosblog/database/postgresql/how-to-start-stop-postgresql-9-2-on-mac-os-x-10-8-x

edited Jun 22 '15 at 08:23

answered Nov 18 '13 at 12:24

SathishVenkat

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 15 '17 at 01:30

If you used Homebrew to install postgresql, then as Shevauns comment on Greg's answer indicates, the correct procedure is

launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist

PostgreSQL server wouldn't shutdown on Lion (Mac OS 10.7)

4 Answers4

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