PostgreSQL crashes upon startup

Question

Every time I restart my Mac OS X Version 10.8.3. and open PSQL Version 9.2.4.3 (14), the PSQL terminal appears for a second and then shuts down.

Below is the info from the docs http://postgresapp.com/documentation

Uninstalling

What I do to remedy the problem is type these 3 lines of code in bash: open ~/Library/Application\ Support/Postgres --> I delete the Var folder sudo sysctl -w kern.sysv.shmall=65536 sudo sysctl -w kern.sysv.shmmax=16777216

When I restart PSQL, it works. The problem I have an empty database. All my work is gone. How can I get PSQL running permantely so that I do not have to restart with an empty database?

• user1822: I don't know if this is an option for your, but Postgres 9.3 "fixed" this problem by requiring much less System V shared memory.

Answer 1

Put those values in /etc/sysctl.conf and they will be read on boot

Mine is:

[codyc:~]$ cat /etc/sysctl.conf
kern.sysv.shmmax=1073741824
kern.sysv.shmall=1073741824

• user2449984: What is /etc/sysctl.conf and how do i navigate to it will bash prompt? I'm assuming once I am inside that folder in can copy and paste your code:
• sambler: /etc/sysctl.conf is a plain text file - the cat command displays the contents of the file. Edit or create the file and enter the values you want to use. sysctl.conf is a system configuration file - for more info try man sysctl.conf