Is the server running on host "localhost" and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432? Now, I'm really confused because I used to have postgre 7 installed on my Debian without any serious problems with the configuration. Right now, I'm using Ubuntu Breezy and postgre 8. I have used the sample .conf files to set my own at /var/lib/postgres/data the only two un-commented lines at the postgresql.conf are : listen_addresses = 'localhost' # what IP interface(s) to listen on; # defaults to localhost, '*' = any port = 5432 And my pg_hba.conf is : # TYPE DATABASE USER CIDR-ADDRESS METHOD local all all trust # The same using local loopback TCP/IP connections. # # TYPE DATABASE USER CIDR-ADDRESS METHOD host all all 127.0.0.1/32 trust host all all ::1/128 trust The command I issue to get this reply is : psql -h localhost -U markulis Also, I don't know if it is of any importance, but if I issue the command while online, it simply hangs. I have also experienced the same problem while trying to connect from pgadmin3. I really need some help on this, because I have to present my diploma work in short time and the system doesn't work.