Thread

1. How to check completeness of installation

   Subramanian,Ramachandran <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> — 2026-02-19T08:59:29Z

   Hello,
   
      we are in a Situation where Linux boxes are delivered to us with postgres installed.  Our group cannot install or upgrade. We do not have root privileges.
   
   Yesterday I found out pg_waldump bin file is missing and today I found out pg_archivecleanup is also missing.  I am new to postgres and do not have a complete list of executables that are expected to be present.
   
   
   
     1.  Is there any command or method with which we as DBAs can check for completeness of installation.
     2.  Is there any way with which we can install Postgress WITHOUT ROOT privileges.
   
   I thank you in advance for your time and efforts in helping me.
   
   
   LG
   Ram
   
   
   Freundliche Grüße
   
   i. A. Ramachandran Subramanian
   Zentralbereich Informationstechnologie
   
   Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G.
   
   
   Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.
   
   
   
   
   
   Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G., Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
   Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape, Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
   Sitz Oberursel (Taunus) · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Bad Homburg v. d. H. HRB 1583 · USt.-IdNr. DE 114106814
   
   
   
   
   
    
   Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.,  Löffelstraße 34-38, 70597 Stuttgart
   Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape,
   Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
   Sitz Stuttgart · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Stuttgart HRB 2686 · USt.-IdNr. DE 147802285
   Beiträge zu privaten Kranken- und Pflegekrankenversicherungen unterliegen nicht der Versicherungsteuer (§ 4 Nr. 5 VersStG) · Versicherungsleistungen sowie Umsätze aus Versicherungsvertreter-/Maklertätigkeiten sind umsatzsteuerfrei
    
   
   
   
    
   Die Pflichtangaben der ALH Gruppe gemäß § 35a GmbHG bzw. § 80 AktG finden Sie hier: https://www.alte-leipziger.de/impressum 
   
   
   
   
   
   ______________________
   
   ALH Gruppe
   Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
   Tel.: +49 (6171) 66-4882
   Fax: +49 (6171) 66-800-4882
   E-Mail: ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de
   www.alte-leipziger.de
   www.hallesche.de
   
   

2. Re: How to check completeness of installation

   chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> — 2026-02-19T09:44:04Z

   On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 08:59:29AM +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
   > Hello,
   > 
   > we are in a Situation where Linux boxes are delivered to us with postgres installed.  
   > Our group cannot install or upgrade. We do not have root privileges.
   > 
   > Yesterday I found out pg_waldump bin file is missing and today I found out 
   > pg_archivecleanup is also missing.  I am new to postgres and do not have 
   > a complete list of executables that are expected to be present.
   
   Referring do Debian installations you should be able (unless it's explicitely prohibited) to use the 
   debian package management to look around.
   
   First you might want to look at the packages related to postgres installed:
   	dpkg -l | grep postgres
   then you can take a look at which files they contain, like:
   	dpkg -L postgresql-server-dev-17
   
   For RPM based distribution there are similar ways, just take a look at "man rpm".
   
   >   1.  Is there any command or method with which we as DBAs can check for completeness of installation.
   
   "completeness" is a vage description as there are numerous optional components.
   
   >   2.  Is there any way with which we can install Postgress WITHOUT ROOT privileges.
   
   You really should not do this, for several reasons. Just talk to the administration folks.
   
   HTH, chris
   
   
   
   

3. AW: How to check completeness of installation

   Subramanian,Ramachandran <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> — 2026-02-19T09:54:46Z

   Thank you so much for your reply. 
   
   
    The command dpkg does not work in our installation 
   
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ dpkg
   -bash: dpkg: command not found
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$
   
   RPM seems to be too vast a topic for me to try a quick and dirty command. Need to read up on it. 
   
   I will NOT attempt to install Postgres as non root.  Thank you for your suggestion. 
   
   
   LG
   
   Ram
   
   
   
   Freundliche Grüße
   
   i. A. Ramachandran Subramanian
   Zentralbereich Informationstechnologie
   
   Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G.
   
   
   Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G., Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
   Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape, Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
   Sitz Oberursel (Taunus) · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Bad Homburg v. d. H. HRB 1583 · USt.-IdNr. DE 114106814
   
   
   
   
   
    
   Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.,  Löffelstraße 34-38, 70597 Stuttgart
   Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape,
   Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
   Sitz Stuttgart · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Stuttgart HRB 2686 · USt.-IdNr. DE 147802285
   Beiträge zu privaten Kranken- und Pflegekrankenversicherungen unterliegen nicht der Versicherungsteuer (§ 4 Nr. 5 VersStG) · Versicherungsleistungen sowie Umsätze aus Versicherungsvertreter-/Maklertätigkeiten sind umsatzsteuerfrei
    
   
   
   
    
   Die Pflichtangaben der ALH Gruppe gemäß § 35a GmbHG bzw. § 80 AktG finden Sie hier: https://www.alte-leipziger.de/impressum 
   
   
   
   
   
   ______________________
   
   ALH Gruppe
   Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
   Tel.: +49 (6171) 66-4882
   Fax: +49 (6171) 66-800-4882
   E-Mail: ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de
   www.alte-leipziger.de
   www.hallesche.de
   
   
   
   -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
   Von: chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> 
   Gesendet: Donnerstag, 19. Februar 2026 10:44
   An: Subramanian,Ramachandran IT-md-db <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de>
   Cc: pgsql-novice@lists.postgresql.org
   Betreff: Re: How to check completeness of installation
   
   On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 08:59:29AM +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
   > Hello,
   > 
   > we are in a Situation where Linux boxes are delivered to us with postgres installed.  
   > Our group cannot install or upgrade. We do not have root privileges.
   > 
   > Yesterday I found out pg_waldump bin file is missing and today I found 
   > out pg_archivecleanup is also missing.  I am new to postgres and do 
   > not have a complete list of executables that are expected to be present.
   
   Referring do Debian installations you should be able (unless it's explicitely prohibited) to use the debian package management to look around.
   
   First you might want to look at the packages related to postgres installed:
   	dpkg -l | grep postgres
   then you can take a look at which files they contain, like:
   	dpkg -L postgresql-server-dev-17
   
   For RPM based distribution there are similar ways, just take a look at "man rpm".
   
   >   1.  Is there any command or method with which we as DBAs can check for completeness of installation.
   
   "completeness" is a vage description as there are numerous optional components.
   
   >   2.  Is there any way with which we can install Postgress WITHOUT ROOT privileges.
   
   You really should not do this, for several reasons. Just talk to the administration folks.
   
   HTH, chris
   

4. Re: How to check completeness of installation

   chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> — 2026-02-19T10:25:50Z

   > [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ dpkg
   > -bash: dpkg: command not found
   
   The very first thing to do is: get informed about the Linux distribution you're working on:
   
   	cat /etc/os-release
   
   then use the appropriate tools.
   
   > [postgres@lx90158 ~]$
   > 
   > RPM seems to be too vast a topic for me to try a quick and dirty command. Need to read up on it. 
   
   The two commands you would need (IIRC):
   
   rpm -qa | grep -i postgres
   
   rpm -qlp packagename
   
   HTH, Chris
   
   
   
   
   

5. AW: How to check completeness of installation

   Subramanian,Ramachandran <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> — 2026-02-19T10:50:07Z

   Hello 
   
     Thank you for your guidance. 
   
   Our Linux Admin team said that they picked up a RHEL9 package with postgres ( I do not from where ), and this package possibly did not have the complete set of executables.
   
   They also said that soon they will resolve the issue. 
   
   The first two commands work , the third command  rpm -q | p package_name does not work  ( p unknown command ). 
   
   😊 
   
   LG
   
   Ram 
   
   
   
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ cat /etc/os-release
   NAME="Red Hat Enterprise Linux"
   VERSION="9.7 (Plow)"
   ID="rhel"
   ID_LIKE="fedora"
   VERSION_ID="9.7"
   PLATFORM_ID="platform:el9"
   PRETTY_NAME="Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.7 (Plow)"
   ANSI_COLOR="0;31"
   LOGO="fedora-logo-icon"
   CPE_NAME="cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos"
   HOME_URL="https://www.redhat.com/"
   DOCUMENTATION_URL="https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/9"
   BUG_REPORT_URL="https://issues.redhat.com/"
   
   REDHAT_BUGZILLA_PRODUCT="Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9"
   REDHAT_BUGZILLA_PRODUCT_VERSION=9.7
   REDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT="Red Hat Enterprise Linux"
   REDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT_VERSION="9.7"
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$
   
   
   
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ rpm -qa | grep -i postgres
   postgresql-private-libs-16.10-1.module+el9.7.0+23477+80afd791.x86_64
   postgresql-16.10-1.module+el9.7.0+23477+80afd791.x86_64
   postgresql-server-16.10-1.module+el9.7.0+23477+80afd791.x86_64
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$
   
   
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ rpm -q|p postgresql-server-16.10-1.module+el9.7.0+23477+80afd791.x86_64
   -bash: p: command not found
   rpm: no arguments given for query
   [postgres@lx90158 ~]$
   
   
   
   
   Freundliche Grüße
   
   i. A. Ramachandran Subramanian
   Zentralbereich Informationstechnologie
   
   Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G.
   
   
   Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung a.G., Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
   Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape, Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
   Sitz Oberursel (Taunus) · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Bad Homburg v. d. H. HRB 1583 · USt.-IdNr. DE 114106814
   
   
   
   
   
    
   Hallesche Krankenversicherung a.G.,  Löffelstraße 34-38, 70597 Stuttgart
   Vors. des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Walter Botermann · Vorstand: Christoph Bohn (Vors.), Dr. Jürgen Bierbaum (stv. Vors.), Frank Kettnaker, Dr. Jochen Kriegmeier, Alexander Mayer, Christian Pape,
   Wiltrud Pekarek, Udo Wilcsek
   Sitz Stuttgart · Rechtsform VVaG · Amtsgericht Stuttgart HRB 2686 · USt.-IdNr. DE 147802285
   Beiträge zu privaten Kranken- und Pflegekrankenversicherungen unterliegen nicht der Versicherungsteuer (§ 4 Nr. 5 VersStG) · Versicherungsleistungen sowie Umsätze aus Versicherungsvertreter-/Maklertätigkeiten sind umsatzsteuerfrei
    
   
   
   
    
   Die Pflichtangaben der ALH Gruppe gemäß § 35a GmbHG bzw. § 80 AktG finden Sie hier: https://www.alte-leipziger.de/impressum 
   
   
   
   
   
   ______________________
   
   ALH Gruppe
   Alte Leipziger-Platz 1, 61440 Oberursel
   Tel.: +49 (6171) 66-4882
   Fax: +49 (6171) 66-800-4882
   E-Mail: ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de
   www.alte-leipziger.de
   www.hallesche.de
   
   
   
   -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
   Von: chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> 
   Gesendet: Donnerstag, 19. Februar 2026 11:26
   An: Subramanian,Ramachandran IT-md-db <ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de>; pgsql-novice@lists.postgresql.org
   Betreff: Re: How to check completeness of installation
   
   > [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ dpkg
   > -bash: dpkg: command not found
   
   The very first thing to do is: get informed about the Linux distribution you're working on:
   
   	cat /etc/os-release
   
   then use the appropriate tools.
   
   > [postgres@lx90158 ~]$
   > 
   > RPM seems to be too vast a topic for me to try a quick and dirty command. Need to read up on it. 
   
   The two commands you would need (IIRC):
   
   rpm -qa | grep -i postgres
   
   rpm -qlp packagename
   
   HTH, Chris
   
   

6. Re: How to check completeness of installation

   chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> — 2026-02-19T11:03:53Z

   On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 10:50:07AM +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
   > Hello 
   > 
   >   Thank you for your guidance. 
   > 
   > Our Linux Admin team said that they picked up a RHEL9 package with postgres ( I do not from where ), 
   > and this package possibly did not have the complete set of executables.
   
   there are RPM from postgresql.org:
   https://www.postgresql.org/download/linux/redhat/
   
   I would expect them to be complete (maybe just for comparison)
   
   > They also said that soon they will resolve the issue. 
   
   Nice guys :-)
   
   > The first two commands work , the third command  rpm -q | p package_name does not work  ( p unknown command ). 
   
   it's rather "minus qu _ell_ pee" than "minus qu _pipe_ pee"
   
   > [postgres@lx90158 ~]$ cat /etc/os-release
   > NAME="Red Hat Enterprise Linux"
   > VERSION="9.7 (Plow)"
   
   so it's Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 9.7
   which uses "rpm" as package manager.
   
   HTH, Chris
   
   
   
   
   

7. Re: How to check completeness of installation

   Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> — 2026-02-19T14:54:15Z

   chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> writes:
   > On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 08:59:29AM +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
   >> 2.  Is there any way with which we can install Postgress WITHOUT ROOT privileges.
   
   > You really should not do this, for several reasons.
   
   Why not?  People do that all the time if they are building from
   source:
   
   https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/installation.html
   
   I will grant that there's some security advantage to installing the
   executables under an ownership account that's different from the
   one used to run the server.  But it doesn't follow that the owning
   account has to be root.
   
   			regards, tom lane
   
   
   
   

8. Re: How to check completeness of installation

   chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> — 2026-02-19T15:12:13Z

   On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 09:54:15AM -0500, Tom Lane wrote:
   > chris <psql-contact@citecs.de> writes:
   > > On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 08:59:29AM +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
   > >> 2.  Is there any way with which we can install Postgress WITHOUT ROOT privileges.
   > 
   > > You really should not do this, for several reasons.
   > 
   > Why not?  
   
   besides all technical discussions:
   - compliance 
   - regulations
   - house rules
   - administration 
   - maintainability for years to come
   - ...
   
   The life of software does not end when the compiler stops without errors 
   in fact it's its beginning.
   
   
   
   

9. Re: AW: How to check completeness of installation

   Laurenz Albe <laurenz.albe@cybertec.at> — 2026-02-19T15:51:39Z

   On Thu, 2026-02-19 at 10:50 +0000, Subramanian,Ramachandran wrote:
   > The first two commands work
   
   So you are using an RPM-based distribution.
   
   To list the installed packages, run
   
     rpm -qa | grep postgresql
   
   They should include the "server" package and the "contrib" package.
   
   If you cannot "find" some PostgreSQL commands like "pg_archivecleanup",
   it is also conceivable that they are not on your PATH, and that you need
   to invoke them with their absolute path, like
   
     /usr/pgsql-18/bin/pg_archivecleanup
   
   (This example assumes PostgreSQL v18.)
   
   Yours,
   Laurenz Albe
   
   
   
   

10. Re: How to check completeness of installation

    David G. Johnston <david.g.johnston@gmail.com> — 2026-02-19T15:52:20Z

    On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 1:59 AM Subramanian,Ramachandran <
    ramachandran.subramanian@alte-leipziger.de> wrote:
    
    > I am new to postgres and do not have a complete list of executables that
    > are expected to be present.
    >
    >
    >
    >    1. Is there any command or method with which we as DBAs can check for
    >    completeness of installation.
    >
    >
    Read the documentation for the version you have installed.  It includes
    reference pages for the various binaries that get produced.
    
    David J.
    
    p.s., maybe consider not including that signature for emails to a public
    mailing list...especially when you reply without trimming out unnecessary
    content.  We prefer inline or bottom-posting on these lists.
    
    >