• Install the base postgres stack

  wget http://ftp7.us.postgresql.org/pub/postgresql/v8.3.1/postgresql-8.3.1.tar.bz2
  tar -xjvf postgresql-8.3.1.tar.bz2
  cd postgresql-8.3.1
  #NOTE the LDFLAGS here... this is to support GEOS for postGIS
  LDFLAGS=-lstdc++ ./configure --with-perl --prefix=/usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1
  make
  make install
  cd doc
  make install
  

• add the pg paths to your profile file to make accessing pg easy:

  PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/bin
  MANPATH=$MANPATH:/usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/man
  export PATH
  export MANPATH
  

• add the postgres user (as root)

  sudo useradd postgres
  passwd xxxxxxx
  

• Make a database and launch Postgres

  sudo mkdir /usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/data
  sudo chown postgres /usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/data
  
  #LOG IN AS POSTGRES!!!
  sudo su postgres
  cd /usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/
  /usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/bin/initdb ./data
  /usr/local/postgresql-8.3.1/bin/postmaster -D ./data/ > ./data/logfile.txt 2>&1 &
  
  
  #LOG OUT AS POSTGRES
  exit
  
  #Test it out
  psql -l -U postgres
  
  #optionally create new pg superuser
  createuser jlivni
  #Shall the new role be a superuser? (y/n) y
  #CREATE ROLE