initdb "pg_atoi: error"

I have received a number of inquires as to the "initdb" error
which ends with the message...

Adding template1 database to pg_database...
Running: postgres -boot -C -F -D/home/postgres/local/pgsql/data -Q
template1 < /tmp/create.8912
ERROR: pg_atoi: error in "template1": can't parse "template1"
ERROR: pg_atoi: error in "template1": can't parse "template1"
initdb: could not log template database
initdb: cleaning up.

Bottomline
----------
In my case the solution was simple...remove the RedHat RPM for
Postgres, then continue with the installation from the Postgres
source distribution.

Discussion
----------
The RedHat RPM places the Postgres executables in /usr/bin/ (I believe)
which is before the /usr/local/pgsql/bin/initdb in the Postgres
source distribution. RedHat also chooses to place the data base
and other items in locations different from the Postgres source
distribution defaults.

I hope this helps.

Good luck

mike

--
Dr Michael A. Koerber
MIT/Lincoln Laboratory
781-981-3250