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I followed these steps to install PostgreSQL with Homebrew (first time using Homebrew): http://dhilipsiva.blogspot.se/2013/02/install-postgresql-on-os-x-using.html

The last step didn't work. I assume it is supposed to start the server. However, I think I successfully created a database cluster and started the database server following the official documentation (17.2 and 17.3): http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.2/interactive/runtime.html

My problem is that when I try to create a database using createdb mydb in the terminal, I get the message:

createdb: could not connect to database postgres: could not connect to server: No such file or directory
Is the server running locally and accepting
connections on Unix domain socket "/var/pgsql_socket/.s.PGSQL.5432"?

I'm very confused since a lot of the concepts being thrown around here (like sockets, path variables etc) are new to me. I'm also confused about the directory structure in Mac OS X, since I recently migrated from Windows. If anyone could just point me in the right direction it'd be much appreciated.

Update As always, once you post, you find the answer. Well almost: the accepted answer in this post leads me to the conclusion that my Unix domain socket (whatever that is) is located in a place that Postgres doesn't expect.

Can't get Postgres started

Using the -h flag, it works. So the question is, how do I configure Postgres to look for the socket in the right place?

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1 Answer 1

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You are apparently running the default OS X supplied PostgreSQL client, which expects the Unix-domain socket in a different location than the Homebrew version. Basically,

/usr/bin/{createdb,psql,...} ---> /var/pgsql_socket/.s.PGSQL.5432
/usr/local/bin/{createdb,psql,...} ---> /tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432

So make sure your path is set correctly so that you are calling the right one.

Alternatively, you can override the socket location like this:

createdb -h /tmp ...
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