Re: need a method to ping a running database

> It seems that if you start postgresql and then issue a "kill -9" on the
postmaster processes a .pid file is left
>behind (understandable), but then if you run "pg_ctl status" it will
>immediately report that the database is running and give you the pid
>number and whatever else.  This is a bit misleading to say the least.

First thoght is don't do "kill -9" other than the pid problem is the probem
that postgresql caches data in memory and that could be a problem if you
kill like that.  Use pg_ctl stop -m fast or pg_ctl stop -m immediate

Take care,
Jay