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PostgreSQL + TimescaleDB Install (Alongside Existing Versions)

This documents the exact steps performed to install PostgreSQL 18 alongside an existing PostgreSQL 13 instance, configure it to use /dbdrive, run on port 5433, and enable TimescaleDB.

While this doc is specific to PSQL 18 and 13, you can use it for any version.

Initial State​

Existing clusters:

sudo pg_lsclusters

Output:

13  main  5432  online  /dbdrive/postgresql/13/main
14  main  5433  down,binaries_missing
18  main  5433  down  /var/lib/postgresql/18/main

Desired Version Not Found​

If the desired version (i.e. 18) isn't shown in the ls clusters output, then you should install it with the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install postgresql-18 postgresql-client-18

1. Remove Broken PostgreSQL 14 Cluster (if applicable)​

sudo pg_dropcluster 14 main --stop

Verify:

sudo pg_lsclusters

2. Remove Default PostgreSQL 18 Cluster (Wrong Data Directory)​

The default PG18 cluster was using /var/lib/postgresql/18/main. It was removed to recreate it on /dbdrive.

sudo pg_dropcluster 18 main --stop

Verify only PG13 remains:

sudo pg_lsclusters

3. Create PostgreSQL 18 Cluster on /dbdrive​

Create directory:

sudo mkdir -p /dbdrive/postgresql/18/main
sudo chown -R postgres:postgres /dbdrive/postgresql/18

Create cluster with custom data directory and port 5433:

sudo pg_createcluster 18 main \
  --datadir=/dbdrive/postgresql/18/main \
  --port=5433

Start PostgreSQL 18:

sudo pg_ctlcluster 18 main start

Verify:

sudo pg_lsclusters

Expected result:

13  main  5432  online  /dbdrive/postgresql/13/main
18  main  5433  online  /dbdrive/postgresql/18/main

4. Install TimescaleDB for PostgreSQL 18​

sudo apt install timescaledb-2-postgresql-18

5. Enable TimescaleDB Preload Library​

Edit PostgreSQL 18 configuration:

sudo nano /etc/postgresql/18/main/postgresql.conf

Set:

shared_preload_libraries = 'timescaledb'

Save and exit.

6. Restart PostgreSQL 18​

sudo pg_ctlcluster 18 main restart

Verify:

sudo pg_lsclusters

7. TimescaleDB Tune​

sudo timescaledb-tune

8. Create GQC User​

CREATE ROLE gqc WITH LOGIN PASSWORD 'your_password_here' CREATEDB;

Final Architecture​

VersionPortData Directory
135432/dbdrive/postgresql/13/main
185433/dbdrive/postgresql/18/main

PostgreSQL 18 is now:

  • Installed side-by-side with PostgreSQL 13
  • Running on port 5433
  • Using /dbdrive
  • TimescaleDB installed
  • shared_preload_libraries configured
  • Restarted and operational