Postgresql: change default data path

I would like to point the PostgreSQL server to a particular non-default data directory upon startup. Right now, I have to (either manually or in a script) use pg_ctl to stop and restart the database with my /new/path/to/data.

OS is Ubuntu where the default data directory is /var/lib/postgresql/8.4/main

Solution 1:

Open /etc/postgresql/8.4/main/postgresql.confand adjust data_directory property to your new data path and restart the server using (preffered) pg_ctlcluster 8.4 main stop/start or pg_ctl if you want in that way.

Make sure that /new/path/to/data is accessible only for postgres user:

chown postgres.postgres /new/path/to/data
chmod 700 /new/path/to/data