Install postgres without apt-get

I have access to a machine on a scientific hpc, and I'm setting up an environemnt to create a web application, made up basically of TOMCAT and postgresql. I cannot use another web server.

The OS is linux with Debian (squeeze) and I don't have root access to the machine.

After googling a bit around, I only found method which required root access to the machine for installing postgresql (apt-get ....).

Is it possible to install postgresql in a local directory where I have full permissions? Or Does postgresql necessarily requires root access to be installed? Why?

Solution 1:

Yes, PostgreSQL can be installed without being root, although the installation has to be done manually, as you cannot use the package manager of your distribution.

Solution 2:

Two ways:

• compile from source; or
• Download EnterpriseDB's pre-compiled platform-independent-ish binaries then initdb yourself and start the server with pg_ctl.