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Starting PostgreSQL 8.3 database server: mainThe PostgreSQL server failed to start. Please check the log output: 2011-07-21 18:34:55 EEST FATAL: unsafe permissions on private key file “server.key” 2011-07-21 18:34:55 EEST DETAIL: File must be owned by the database user or root, must have no write permission for “group”, and must have no permissions for “other”. failed!
failed!

HOw to fix ?
easy

Work Around:

1) Enter the relevant directory (use> locate server.key)
2) Back up old server.key link.
3) Copy ssl-cert-snakeoil.key to server.key
4-5) Change its owner & group to postgres
6) Ensure the permissions are 700 or 740 (as requested by error message)

Recipe for my w/ postgresql-8.3 (beware of typos):

cd /var/lib/postgresql/8.3/main/
mv server.key server.key-0
cp /etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key server.key
chown postgres server.key
chgrp postgres server.key
chmod 740 server.key
/etc/init.d/postgresql-8.3 start