2009/9/26 Martin Gainty <mgainty(at)hotmail(dot)com>:
> All-
>
> when starting postgres what does this error mean exactly?
> psql: FATAL: role "postgres" does not exist
>
> what is the exact solution for psql: FATAL: role "postgres" does not exist
> error?
That's not an error starting postgresql, it's an error starting psql.
Postgresql, by default, sets ownership of the cluster files and
creates a login role for the username used to run initdb. So, what
username was used to run initdb?