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From: Ron Johnson <ronljohnsonjr@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2026 16:09:11 -0400
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 <CANzqJaC6GW4G7Xe+BWq3q9+D0cvLuzvzJdK32tzXQv1_xA4YGA@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Howto tell pg_ctl to use a non-default directory for config files
To: Pgsql-admin <pgsql-admin@lists.postgresql.org>
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On Thu, Jun 4, 2026 at 4:02=E2=80=AFPM Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> wrote:

> Michael Grimm <trashcan@ellael.org> writes:
> > Question:
> > Is there a way to tell PostgreSQL to look for config files in e.g.
> /usr/local/etc/postgres, where normally all config files reside in FreeBS=
D?
> [2]
>
> Typically you would say "pg_ctl -D /usr/local/etc/postgres" to point
> it at the config file.  Then you would need the config file to include
> data_directory and perhaps other settings pointing to wherever the
> actual data files are.
>

Is it standard to point PGDATA to an etc directory instead of to the "data"
directory?

--=20
Death to <Redacted>, and butter sauce.
Don't boil me, I'm still alive.
<Redacted> lobster!

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">On Thu, Jun 4, 2026 at 4:02=E2=80=AFPM To=
m Lane &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us">tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us</a>&gt; w=
rote:</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><blockquote cla=
ss=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid =
rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Michael Grimm &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:tras=
hcan@ellael.org" target=3D"_blank">trashcan@ellael.org</a>&gt; writes:<br>
&gt; Question: <br>
&gt; Is there a way to tell PostgreSQL to look for config files in e.g. /us=
r/local/etc/postgres, where normally all config files reside in FreeBSD? [2=
]<br>
<br>
Typically you would say &quot;pg_ctl -D /usr/local/etc/postgres&quot; to po=
int<br>
it at the config file.=C2=A0 Then you would need the config file to include=
<br>
data_directory and perhaps other settings pointing to wherever the<br>
actual data files are.<br></blockquote><div>=C2=A0</div><div>Is it standard=
 to point PGDATA to an etc directory instead of to the &quot;data&quot; dir=
ectory?</div><div><br></div></div><span class=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">--=
 </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Dea=
th to &lt;Redacted&gt;, and butter sauce.<div>Don&#39;t boil me, I&#39;m st=
ill alive.<br><div><div>&lt;Redacted&gt; lobster!</div></div></div></div></=
div></div>

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