external_pid_file

A GUC parameter specifying the location of an optional additional pidfile

external_pid_file is a GUC parameter specifying the location of an optional additional pidfile.

external_pid_file was added in PostgreSQL 8.0.

Usage

external_pid_file is intended for use by the operating system (e.g. systemd) if a copy of the postmaster PID is required in a specific location.

In contrast to postmaster.pid, the pidfile generated contains just the postmaster PID, followed by a newline.

By default, external_pid_file is an empty string.

PostgreSQL 9.2
- the generated file will be made world-readable (commit 223d14a9)
PostgreSQL 8.0
- added (commit 130f89e9, initially as external_pidfile but renamed in 337ffcdd)