Sure you can. The initdb command just sets up the directory you specified and that's all it does. The files in the directory will be created with that user's permission. So the directory you specify must be accessible to that "regular user". man page - http://linux.die.net/man/1/initdb "Creating a database cluster consists of creating the directories in which the database data will live..." Be warned - The files are created with the user's permissions, which mean you need to now start the postgres process (i.e., pg_ctl or postmaster) as the SAME user. If you ran initdb as a regular then try to start the database as "postgres", the attempt might fail due to permission denied errors. So you can do it, but it might not be what you are trying to do. Any reason why you want to use a user that is not "postgres" (assuming postgres is a system user you created specifically for running PostgreSQL database) On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 11:20 AM, alexondi <alexondi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hi! > Can I call initdb with some params as regular user (not root or postgres)? > May I have some problem with replication, backup or with some other > subsystem? > Thank you! > > -- > View this message in context: http://postgresql.1045698.n5.nabble.com/call-initdb-as-regular-user-tp4712980p4712980.html > Sent from the PostgreSQL - general mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > > -- > Sent via pgsql-general mailing list (pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) > To make changes to your subscription: > http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-general > -- --- John L Cheng -- Sent via pgsql-general mailing list (pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-general
