pg_ctl: command not found, what package has this command?

Question

I have installed pgadmin using the ubuntu software center and am trying to access a local database (recently downloaded from the internet). I have tried to run the pg_ctl command (running as postgres) however this gives a command not found error. I have also ran the following commands:

echo $PATH: /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/games:/usr/games

so that's a bit of a weird place but still. whereis pg_ctl: pg_ctl: /usr/share/man/man1/pg_ctl.1.gz type pg_ctl: -su: so it's somewhere on my system type: pg_ctl: not found which looks wrong

apt-cache policy postgres-xc gives me a No such file or directory error the output of

sudo apt-get install postgres-xc is

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package postgres-xc

sudo apt-get -q update gives me :

Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release [49.6 kB]
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Sources [93.6 kB]
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports Release.gpg
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise Release
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release
Get:4 http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg [72 B]
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex
Get:5 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Sources [2,494 B]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Sources [29.9 kB]
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse Sources
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Translation-en
Get:7 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Sources [1,797 B]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main amd64 Packages [347 kB]
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe Translation-en
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted amd64 Packages [4,627 B]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe amd64 Packages [85.4 kB]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse amd64 Packages [2,439 B]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main i386 Packages [366 kB]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted i386 Packages [4,620 B]
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe i386 Packages [89.5 kB]
Get:15 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse i386 Packages [2,635 B]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Translation-en
Fetched 1,081 kB in 0s (1,561 kB/s)

cat /etc/apt/sources.list gives me :

#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release amd64 (20130820.1)]/ dists/precise/main/binary-i386/

#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release amd64 (20130820.1)]/ dists/precise/restricted/binary-i386/
#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release amd64 (20130820.1)]/ precise main restricted

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu 
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to 
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in 
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse

## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main

you can fix using path setup in Linux prompt you can see this post :https://thedbadmin.com/how-to-fix-pg_ctl-command-not-found/ — abhishek, Jul 24 '22 at 08:55

score 54 · Answer 1 · edited Jul 14 '23 at 22:27

54

You shouldn't run pg_ctl directly under Ubuntu/Debian. Use pg_ctlcluster instead, which is installed by postgresql-common. See the documentation here.

edited Jul 14 '23 at 22:27

Hari Reddy

103
4

answered Dec 04 '13 at 14:29

Peter Eisentraut

1,707

27

If you don't which version and cluster parameters you should use when calling pg_ctlcluster, check the output of pg_lsclusters. – dusan Jan 13 '15 at 18:45
4

hey Peter , legit question , why not running pg_ctl directly? – eshirvana Aug 10 '22 at 17:59
The default cluster is main so just use sudo pg_ctlcluster <version> main <command> – n0099 Nov 27 '23 at 06:17
@Hari Reddy how do I run pg_ctl logrotate then? It doesn't seem to be available with pg_ctlcluster – LueTm Jan 16 '24 at 10:02

score 43 · Accepted Answer · edited May 04 '16 at 19:20

43

You should edit your path:

$ cd ~
$ vim .profile
PATH=$PATH:/usr/lib/postgresql/{version}/bin
export PATH
$ . ~/.profile

Replace {version} with the correct version number.

And now you can execute the command from the shell:

pg_ctl --help
pg_ctl is a utility to initialize, start, stop, or control a PostgreSQL server.

edited May 04 '16 at 19:20

Andrea Lazzarotto

7,956

answered Mar 13 '14 at 04:21

JohnMerlino

7,309

12

There's a reason pg_ctl for a particular pg version (e.g. 9.1, 9.4) is not in your $PATH on Ubuntu. If you upgrade Ubuntu, multiple pg versions may be running, and only pg_ctlcluster will take care of all of them. See @PeterEisentraut's more canonical answer. – hobs Sep 06 '15 at 19:27

kendar · Answer 3 · 2022-11-11T13:20:31.217

10

use this code:

sudo pg_ctlcluster 'cluster_version' 'cluster-name' 'action'

where:

/etc/postgresql/<cluster-version>/<cluster-name>/start.conf

where action:

start|stop|restart|reload|status|promote

example my code:

/etc/postgresql/9.5/main/pg_hba.conf

$ sudo pg_ctlcluster 9.5 main reload

edited Nov 11 '22 at 13:20

answered Mar 10 '18 at 07:03

kendar

109
1
4

5

pg_lsclusters is also useful to find out cluster-version and cluster-name. – Ozan Temel Apr 19 '18 at 07:43

pg_ctl: command not found, what package has this command?

3 Answers3