Create a new PostgreSQL data directory.

Section: Server Control and Cluster Management

Initialize cluster

bash
bash
initdb -D /var/lib/postgresql/data
Explanation

Run once when creating a new cluster.

Learn the surrounding workflow

Compare similar commands or jump into common fixes when this command is part of a bigger troubleshooting path.

Related commands

Same sheet · prioritizing Server Control and Cluster Management
Start server with pg_ctl
Start a PostgreSQL server from a data directory.
OpenIn sheetbashsame section
Stop server fast
Stop the server with fast shutdown mode.
OpenIn sheetbashsame section
Restart server
Restart the server cleanly.
OpenIn sheetbashsame section
Check readiness
Probe whether the server is accepting connections.
OpenIn sheetbashsame section
Show data directory
Inspect the server's active data directory from SQL.
OpenIn sheetsqlsame section
Show config file path
Find the active `postgresql.conf` path.
OpenIn sheetsqlsame section