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Installing PostgreSQL on CentOS

PostgreSQL is the world's most advanced open source database. Its stability, functionality, and extensibility make it a primary choice for an RDBMS solution. In this hands-on lab scenario you are the DBA for Awesome Company. You have been tasked with building a PostgreSQL database backend to facilitate the development of a new web application. This will help you become familiar with how to install the software, initialize the database, and make an initial connection as the administrative user.

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Path Info

Level

Intermediate

Duration

15m

Last updated

Aug 30, 2025

Challenge

Install the PostgreSQL Software

Open the distribution .repo file in vi:

$ sudo vi /etc/yum.repos.d/CentOS-Base.repo

Exclude PostgreSQL by appending the following line to both the [base] and [updates] sections:
```
$ exclude=postgresql*
```

Download and install the PGDG file from postgresql.org:

$ sudo yum -y install https://download.postgresql.org/pub/repos/yum/reporpms/EL-7-x86_64/pgdg-redhat-repo-latest.noarch.rpm

Install PostgreSQL 12:

$ sudo yum install -y postgresql12-server postgresql12-contrib

Challenge

Initialize the Database

Initialize the database:

$ sudo /usr/pgsql-12/bin/postgresql-12-setup initdb

Start and enable the postgresql-12 service:

$ sudo systemctl start postgresql-12
$ sudo systemctl enable postgresql-12

Challenge

Connect as the Default User
- Change to the postgres user and launch psql:
```
$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql
```

Author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

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We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

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