How To Install phpPgAdmin on Ubuntu

Managing PostgreSQL databases through a graphical interface rather than the command line can significantly streamline database operations. phpPgAdmin, much like its MySQL counterpart phpMyAdmin, offers a web-based management tool for PostgreSQL databases. This guide will walk you through the process of installing phpPgAdmin on an Ubuntu system, providing you with a user-friendly interface for managing your PostgreSQL databases.

Prerequisites

• A server running Ubuntu (the steps should be applicable for most recent versions of Ubuntu).
• You should have PostgreSQL installed on your system. If not, you’ll need to install it before proceeding.
• sudo privileges to execute administrative commands.

Step 1: Update Your System

Always start with updating your package lists to ensure you install the latest versions of the software:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Apache and PHP

phpPgAdmin is a PHP application and requires a web server to function. Here, we’ll use Apache:

sudo apt install apache2 php libapache2-mod-php php-pgsql

This command installs Apache, PHP, and the PHP extension for PostgreSQL. You might need to install additional PHP extensions depending on your specific requirements.

Step 3: Install PostgreSQL

If you haven’t installed PostgreSQL yet, you can do so by executing:

sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib

Make sure to secure your PostgreSQL installation and create a database user if you haven’t done so yet.

Step 4: Download and Install phpPgAdmin

As of my last update, phpPgAdmin might not be available directly from the Ubuntu default repositories. You may need to download it manually from its official website or use a third-party repository. For the most current method, check the phpPgAdmin official documentation. Assuming it’s available from a trusted source, you can download and extract it to the Apache server’s root directory:

cd /var/www/html
wget https://github.com/phppgadmin/phppgadmin/releases/download/REL_7-13-0/phpPgAdmin-7.13.0.tar.gz
sudo tar xzf phpPgAdmin-7.13.0.tar.gz
sudo mv phpPgAdmin-7.13.0 phppgadmin
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data phppgadmin

Step 5: Configure Apache for phpPgAdmin

Create a new Apache configuration file for phpPgAdmin:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/conf-available/phppgadmin.conf

Add the following lines to the file:

Alias /phppgadmin /var/www/html/phppgadmin
<Directory /var/www/html/phppgadmin>
    Require all granted
</Directory>

Enable the new configuration and reload Apache:

sudo a2enconf phppgadmin
sudo systemctl reload apache2

Step 6: Configure phpPgAdmin

You might need to configure phpPgAdmin to connect to your PostgreSQL database by editing its configuration file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/phppgadmin/conf/config.inc.php

Make sure the connection settings match your PostgreSQL setup. The default settings usually work, but you may need to adjust the host, port, or authentication method depending on your setup.

Step 7: Access phpPgAdmin

Open your web browser and navigate to http://your_server_ip/phppgadmin to access the phpPgAdmin interface. From here, you can log in with your PostgreSQL credentials and manage your databases through the web interface.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed phpPgAdmin on Ubuntu. This setup provides a powerful, web-based tool for managing your PostgreSQL databases. Remember to secure your phpPgAdmin installation by implementing appropriate security measures, such as restricting access to trusted IP addresses and using SSL encryption. Happy database managing!