Pull the latest version of the image from the docker index. This is the recommended method of installation as it is easier to update image in the future. These builds are performed by the Docker Trusted Build service.

docker pull sameersbn/postgresql:latest

Alternately you can build the image yourself.

git clone https://github.com/sameersbn/docker-postgresql.git
cd docker-postgresql
docker build -t="$USER/postgresql" .

Quick Start

Run the postgresql image

docker run --name postgresql -d sameersbn/postgresql:latest

By default remote logins are permitted to the postgresql server and a random password is assigned for the postgres user. The password set for the postgres user can be retrieved from the container logs.

docker logs postgresql

In the output you will notice the following lines with the password:

|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| PostgreSQL User: postgres, Password: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx              |
|                                                                  |
| To remove the PostgreSQL login credentials from the logs, please |
| make a note of password and then delete the file pwfile          |
| from the data store.                                             |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|

To test if the postgresql server is working properly, try connecting to the server.

psql -U postgres -h $(docker inspect --format {{.NetworkSettings.IPAddress}} postgresql)

Configuration

Data Store

For data persistence a volume should be mounted at /var/lib/postgresql.

mkdir /opt/postgresql/data
docker run --name postgresql -d \
  -v /opt/postgresql/data:/var/lib/postgresql sameersbn/postgresql:latest

This will make sure that the data stored in the database is not lost when the image is stopped and started again.

Securing the server

By default a randomly generated password is assigned for the postgres user. The password is stored in a file named pwpass in the data store and is printed in the logs.

If you dont want this password to be displayed in the logs, then please note down the password listed in /opt/postgresql/data/pwpass and then delete the file.

cat /opt/postgresql/data/pwfile
rm /opt/postgresql/data/pwfile

Alternately, you can change the password of the postgres user

psql -U postgres -h $(docker inspect --format {{.NetworkSettings.IPAddress}} postgresql)
\password postgres

Shell Access

For debugging and maintenance purposes you may want access the container shell. Since the container does not allow interactive login over the SSH protocol, you can use the nsenter linux tool (part of the util-linux package) to access the container shell.

Some linux distros (e.g. ubuntu) use older versions of the util-linux which do not include the nsenter tool. To get around this @jpetazzo has created a nice docker image that allows you to install the nsenter utility and a helper script named docker-enter on these distros.

To install the nsenter tool on your host execute the following command.

docker run --rm -v /usr/local/bin:/target jpetazzo/nsenter

Now you can access the container shell using the command

sudo docker-enter postgresql

For more information refer https://github.com/jpetazzo/nsenter

Another tool named nsinit can also be used for the same purpose. Please refer https://jpetazzo.github.io/2014/03/23/lxc-attach-nsinit-nsenter-docker-0-9/ for more information.

Upgrading

To upgrade to newer releases, simply follow this 3 step upgrade procedure.

Step 1: Stop the currently running image

docker stop postgresql

Step 2: Update the docker image.

docker pull sameersbn/postgresql:latest

Step 3: Start the image

docker run --name postgresql -d [OPTIONS] sameersbn/postgresql:latest

Issues

Please report issues here

README.md

Table of Contents

Introduction

Installation