Name is used by another user !!

[gfroyle]

I just installed PostgreSQL on my Mac (G4, 10.4.7) and as part of the installation I need to add a new user to own the server process. Usually this user is called "postgres".

So I went to System Preferences / Accounts and clicked on the + sign and entered the details, including the name "postgres" for the Short Name.

But then the dialog reappeared with a red error message right underneath the Short Name box (and a little red arrow pointing to it) saying "Name is used by another user".

But it isn't being used by another user; I only have three accounts on the computer and none of the other names are "postgres".

I would like to use that username if possible because lots of sample code, examples and third-party client programs assume that the user is called "postgres" and I'd rather not have to work through source code, configuration files etc and replace it with another name every time I try out a new tool...

Any clues?

Thanks

Gordon

 

[thewhitehart]

Did you check out the Netinfo Manager app? Perhaps there is a user with that name?

 

[Max on Macs]

Well...Most servers I've installed created a user themselves if they wanted one. Maybe Postegres smartened up and done the same.

 

[gfroyle]

Did you check out the Netinfo Manager app? Perhaps there is a user with that name?

Thanks for that... I didn't know about that app before.

I checked it out and indeed there is an existing user called postgres.

It has obviously been set up by something related to PostgreSQL because the "realname" is given as PostreSQL Database Server.

I wonder if that means I can just "chown" the data directory (where Postgres stores the actual data files) to postgres and all will be dandy.

I'll give it a go..

Cheers

Gordon