Getting Hands-On with PostgreSQL on an Azure Linux VM

When learning databases, nothing beats real-world practice. Instead of staying purely theoretical, I decided to build my own PostgreSQL lab environment using the Azure free trial. This gave me the flexibility to explore Linux, PostgreSQL installation methods, and core administration commands.

Here’s a walkthrough of what I set up and what I learned along the way.

Setting Up the Practice Environment

Using the Azure free trial, I created a Linux Virtual Machine

Login details for vm

Username: pgadmin

Password: password

Before that install putty on your local machine

connected to it via PuTTY.

Fill Host name :

PostgreSQL Installation Methods

There are two primary ways to install PostgreSQL on Linux:

1. Repository-Based Installation (APT / YUM / RPM)

2. Source Code Installation

1. Repository-Based Installation (APT / YUM / RPM)

This is the most common and recommended approach.

PostgreSQL provides official repositories that ensure

• Secure packages
• Version control
• Easy updates

Reference: https://www.postgresql.org/download/linux/ubuntu/

The execute the below commands : it will set up the PostgreSQL fetching form repository ,identify the any os updates and download encryption for security and set up the environment

>sudo apt install curl ca-certificates sudo install -d /usr/share/postgresql-common/pgdg sudo curl -o /usr/share/postgresql-common/pgdg/apt.postgresql.org.asc — fail https://www.postgresql.org/media/keys/ACCC4CF8.asc

. /etc/os-release sudo sh -c “echo ‘deb [signed-by=/usr/share/postgresql-common/pgdg/apt.postgresql.org.asc] https://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt $VERSION_CODENAME-pgdg main’ > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list” sudo apt update

sudo apt install postgresql-18

# verifying the version

> psql — vesrion

## ps -ef |grep postgres → most used for postgres to verify and identify postgres directories path

## Start / Stop / Restart / Reload

## uisng pg_ctl → we can start /stop / restart / reload uisng data directory

pg_ctl start -D “ data directory name “

Using systemctl :

sudo systemctl status postgresql —> . it shows the postgres service is running or not

sudo systemctl stop postgresql → for stooping or shutdown the postgresql server /cluster

sudo systemctl start postgresql → For start the postgresql server

sudo systemctl retsart postgresql → for restart the server

sudo systemctl reload postgresql → for reload the server when we configure parameters in config / hba conf files

Final Thoughts

Setting up PostgreSQL on an Azure Linux VM turned out to be an incredibly valuable exercise. It wasn’t just about installing a database — it was about understanding

For anyone starting with PostgreSQL administration, I highly recommend building your own sandbox environment. The learning gained from breaking, fixing, and experimenting is unmatched.