How to install PostgreSQL on an Ubuntu 10.04 Vagrant box

Here's how to install PostgreSQL and have it run automatically at startup, on an Ubuntu 10.04 virtual machine using Vagrant. This took me a while to figure out:

Add the default lucid32 base box to your vagrant, if you haven't already:

host> vagrant box add lucid32 http://files.vagrantup.com/lucid32.box

Now make a new lucid32 virtual machine and install postgresql on it:

host> mkdir mybox
host> cd mybox
host> vagrant init lucid32
host> vagrant up
host> vagrant ssh
vagrant@lucid32> sudo aptitude update 
vagrant@lucid32> sudo aptitude install postgresql

Now you need to fix your locale settings (thanks, Crowd Interactive Tech Blog). Edit /etc/bash.bashrc:

vagrant@lucid32> sudo nano /etc/bash.bashrc

    # Add these lines to the bottom of the file:
    export LANGUAGE=en_US.UTF-8
    export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
    export LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8

vagrant@lucid32> sudo locale-gen en_US.UTF-8
vagrant@lucid32> sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

Disconnect from your virtual machine (ctrl-d) then connect again:

host> vagrant ssh
vagrant@lucid32> sudo pg_createcluster 8.4 main --start
vagrant@lucid32> sudo su
root@lucid32> sudo -u postgres psql -l

You should see the list of databases output from psql.

Now so you don't have to do it all again, disconnect from your virtual machine again and package it:

host> vagrant halt
host> vagrant package
host> vagrant box add lucid32_with_postgresql package.box

constantine-nikolaou/how-to-install-postgresql-on-an-ubuntu-1004-vagrant-box.markdown