How to Install PostgreSQL 12 on CentOS 7 and CentOS 8

This guide walks through installing PostgreSQL 12 on CentOS 7 or CentOS 8, covering repository setup, package installation, database initialization, service start‑up, admin password configuration, optional remote access, and pgAdmin 4 installation.

Step 1: Add PostgreSQL Yum Repository

PostgreSQL Yum repository integrates with the system package manager and provides automatic updates for supported PostgreSQL versions.

For CentOS 8 run:

sudo yum -y install https://download.postgresql.org/pub/repos/yum/reporpms/EL-8-x86_64/pgdg-redhat-repo-latest.noarch.rpm

For CentOS 7 run:

sudo yum -y install https://download.postgresql.org/pub/repos/yum/reporpms/EL-7-x86_64/pgdg-redhat-repo-latest.noarch.rpm

Verify the repository package with:

rpm -qi pgdg-redhat-repo

Step 2: Install PostgreSQL 12

CentOS 8

Disable the built‑in PostgreSQL module and install the client and server packages:

sudo dnf -qy module disable postgresql

sudo dnf -y install postgresql12 postgresql12-server

CentOS 7

Install the client and server packages directly:

sudo yum -y install epel-release yum-utils sudo yum-config-manager --enable pgdg12 sudo yum install postgresql12-server postgresql12

Step 3: Initialize and Start the Database Service

Initialize the database cluster: sudo /usr/pgsql-12/bin/postgresql-12-setup initdb Enable and start the service: sudo systemctl enable --now postgresql-12 Check the service status to confirm it is running:

systemctl status postgresql-12

Step 4: Set PostgreSQL Administrator Password

Change the password for the default postgres user:

sudo su - postgres -c "psql -c \"alter user postgres with password 'StrongPassword'\""

Step 5: Enable Remote Access (Optional)

Edit /var/lib/pgsql/12/data/postgresql.conf and set listen_addresses to the server IP or *: listen_addresses = '192.168.10.10' Allow remote connections by editing pg_hba.conf (e.g., add host all all 0.0.0.0/0 md5 or a trusted subnet) and then restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart postgresql-12

Step 6: Install pgAdmin 4 Web Interface

pgAdmin is a popular open‑source management and development platform for PostgreSQL. Follow the official instructions to install pgAdmin 4 on CentOS 7 or CentOS 8 (links provided in the original article).