Deploying a PostgreSQL database instance using Podman offers a clean, isolated, and portable solution for managing your database infrastructure. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process, ensuring your data is persistent and accessible.
Prerequisites:
Ensure you have Podman installed and configured on your system.
Step 1: Pull the PostgreSQL Image
First, you need the PostgreSQL container image. Pull the official image from a container registry (like Docker Hub, which Podman can access by default). Open your terminal and run:
podman pull postgres
This command fetches the latest version of the PostgreSQL image. You can specify a specific version by adding a tag, like postgres:14.
Step 2: Create a Persistent Volume
Databases require data to persist beyond the life of a container. We use a Podman volume for this. Create a named volume:
podman volume create pgdata
Replace pgdata with a name you prefer for your volume. This volume will store the actual database files.
Step 3: Run the PostgreSQL Container
Now, run the container, mounting the persistent volume and setting necessary environment variables.
podman run –name my-postgres \
-e POSTGRESPASSWORD=yourstrong_password \
-v pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data \
-p 5432:5432 \
-d postgres
Let’s break down this command:
- –name my-postgres: Assigns a recognizable name to your container.
- -e POSTGRESPASSWORD=yourstrong_password: Sets the password for the default
postgresuser. Replaceyour_strong_passwordwith a secure password. This is a mandatory environment variable for the official image. - -v pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data: Mounts the named volume
pgdatato the default data directory inside the container (/var/lib/postgresql/data). This ensures data persistence. - -p 5432:5432: Maps the default PostgreSQL port (
5432) inside the container to port5432on your host machine. You can change the host port if needed (e.g.,-p 6432:5432). - -d: Runs the container in detached mode, meaning it runs in the background.
- postgres: The name of the image to use.
Step 4: Verify the Container is Running
Check if your container started successfully:
podman ps
You should see a container named my-postgres listed with a status indicating it’s running.
Step 5: Connect to the Database
You can now connect to your PostgreSQL instance running in the container.
Using a local psql client:
psql -h localhost -p 5432 -U postgres
You will be prompted for the password you set in Step 3.
Alternatively, you can execute a psql command inside the container itself:
podman exec -it my-postgres psql -U postgres
This command runs an interactive terminal session (-it) inside the my-postgres container and executes the psql client as the postgres user.
Step 6: Stopping and Removing the Container and Volume (When Needed)
To stop the running container:
podman stop my-postgres
To remove the stopped container:
podman rm my-postgres
To remove the persistent volume (this will delete your data, so use with caution):
podman volume rm pgdata
Deploying PostgreSQL with Podman simplifies setup and management. By following these steps, you have a running, persistent PostgreSQL database instance ready for your applications. This method provides isolation and portability, making it ideal for development, testing, and production environments.
Source: https://infotechys.com/deploy-postgresql-on-podman/
