Excellent PGSQL Tutorial, WinXP as Service - Configure for Manual Operation

hi all,

i followed this winxp install tutorial and it is the
best one i found for pgsql newbies.

http://viu.eng.rpi.edu/lab/1/s1_1.html

due to the lack of documentation, i would recommend
that anybody new to pgsql should install as a service.
however, some folks may not want to run it as a
service all the time - and you don't need to. you can
configure it to start and stop manually.

i remember seeing this posted her a while back by
Andreas (i think)...

>>I know only the cygwin way, yet, but this doesn't
matter. Even a service can be manually started, if
you define it as "manual" instead of "automatic" in
the service-dialoge of Windows.

Set postmaster to "manual" and start it afterwards in
a cmd-window with NET START postmaster use NET STOP
postmaster to ... well ... stop it ;)

I guess postmaster wouldn't be peed off even if you
let it run into system shutdown since Windows will
stop running services automatically.<<

to build upon it for newer folks, i'd just add that
double clicking services.msc will open the services
diologue box (if there is another easier access point,
do chime in). of course, you can do a search for
service.msc (make sure that system files are visible).

as i do with all my web development related
applications and configuration files, i add it to a
folder that is linked to a toolbar on the taskbar so i
have easy access.

once the services dialogue is open, find "postgresql
database server 8.0", right click on its line and
choose properties. under startup type, choose
"manual", click apply and then click ok.

you don't have to go to the commandline (you can if
you wish, though). in service properties, you will
see "service status" with start, stop, pause and
resume options (some may be grayed out if not
applicable). you can control your server from here.

i set up apache2 in a similar manner.

if you go to the commandline, make sure you type in
the service name. in this case it would be...

net start "postgresql database server 8.0"

or

net stop "postgresql database server 8.0"

...and don't forget the quotes.

i don't much like microsoft too much anymore, so i'm
beginning the transition over to linux (probably
debian based simplymepis for the desktop, straight
debian for a server). i do have winxp set up and
running my web programs on two computers, though, and
i will probably have to use winxp over the next year
or two.

i guess i just have a whole lot more stuff to learn. ;-)

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