Install pgAdmin 4 for PostgreSQL on FreeBSD 12.2

Introduction

pgAdmin is an open-source software project for administrating and managing PostgreSQL database server that includes a graphical administration interface, an SQL query tool, and a procedural code debugger. This guide explains how to install pgAdmin 4 on FreeBSD 12.2.

Prerequisites

• Deploy a Vultr FreeBSD 12.2 Server.
• Create non-root sudo user.
• Install PostgreSQL 12.

1. Configure PostgreSQL

1. Access the PostgreSQL instance.

    $ sudo su - postgres

2. Modify the default user postgres password.

    psql -c "alter user postgres with password 'yourPassword'"

3. Create user pgadmin.

    createuser pgadmin

4. Create a testdb database owned by user pgadmin.

    createdb testdb -O pgadmin

5. Exit the PostgreSQL instance

    exit

2. Install pgAdmin 4

1. Create a symbolic link of Python3.8 binary to /usr/local/bin/python.

    $ sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.8 /usr/local/bin/python

2. Install and upgrade pip, which is a package manager for Python.

    $ sudo pkg install py38-pip
    $ sudo pip install --upgrade pip

3. Install the virtualenv package, which is used to create isolated Python environments.

    $ sudo pkg install py38-virtualenv

4. Create a virtual environment for pgAdmin.

    $ virtualenv pgadmin4

5. Activate the Virtual environment.

    $ . pgadmin4/bin/activate

6. Install Python dependencies.

    $ sudo pip install cryptography==3.1.1 pyopenssl ndg-httpsclient pyasn1 simple-websocket

7. Install Python SQLite3 package.

    $ sudo pkg install py38-sqlite3

8. Download and install Python wheel package for pgAdmin. To get the latest version, go to pgAdmin wheel packages.

    $ sudo pip install https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/pgadmin/pgadmin4/v5.4/pip/pgadmin4-5.4-py3-none-any.whl

9. Create the data directories and give write permissions.

    $ sudo mkdir -pv /var/lib/pgadmin
    $ sudo chmod 770 /var/lib/pgadmin
    $ sudo mkdir -pv /var/log/pgadmin
    $ sudo chmod 770 /var/log/pgadmin

10. Install the nano editor.

     $ sudo pkg install nano

11. Copy the pgAdmin configuration file.

     $ sudo cp ./pgadmin4/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pgadmin4/config.py ./pgadmin4/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pgadmin4/config_local.py

12. Edit the configuration file.

     $ sudo nano ./pgadmin4/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pgadmin4/config_local.py

13. Find the line DEFAULT_SERVER = '127.0.0.1' and change it to match the line below.

     DEFAULT_SERVER = '0.0.0.0'

14. Save and exit the file.

15. Run pgAdmin 4.

     $ sudo python pgadmin4/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pgadmin4/pgAdmin4.py

16. Enter your email address and password to create your pgAdmin administrator account.

17. Open your browser and navigate to your server's IP address at port 5050 to access the pgAdmin 4 user interface. Use the email address and password that you set in the previous step. For example:

     http://192.0.2.11:5050

3. Connect to the Database Server with pgAdmin 4

1. Go to the pgAdmin 4 web portal and click Add New Server.

   

2. You'll be prompted with a dialog box. Enter your preferred server name in the Name field.

   

3. Switch to the Connection tab and enter the required fields with the appropriate data.

   • Enter localhost under the Host name/address.
   • Leave Port value as 5432.
   • Enter testdb under Maintenance database.
   • Enter pgadmin under Username.
   • Enter the database password you chose in section 1.
   • Click Save to login to the server.

   

4. After a successful connection, choose your server in the upper left corner, then expand the arrows to access the testdb database.

   

Conclusion

You have installed pgAdmin 4 for PostgreSQL Server. You can now manage your database server via the dashboard.