failed getting backend encodng

I installed 7.2.3 on redhat8 2.4.20
nmap shows the database listening
connection get the following exception
I tried uncommenting the encoding line in postgresql.conf, no joy.
I have browsed the list, I see the problem but not the solution.
Any help would be really appreciated.
rfjones

Exception caught in conn .
The connection attempt failed because failed getting backend encoding
The connection attempt failed because failed getting backend encoding
at org.postgresql.jdbc1.AbstractJdbc1Connection.openConnection(AbstractJdbc1Connection.java:358)
at org.postgresql.Driver.connect(Driver.java:122)
at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(DriverManager.java:512)
at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(DriverManager.java:171)
at lfax.<init>(lfax.java:16)
at lfax.main(lfax.java:46)
Exception caught.
java.lang.NullPointerException
java.lang.NullPointerException
at lfax.<init>(lfax.java:23)
at lfax.main(lfax.java:46)