13.3. Downloading PostGIS Install Packages and Binaries

Install packages or binary (precompiled) versions are available for a few different computing platforms.

PostgreSQL and PostGIS are both in active development, and some links and references for getting them installed can become quickly out of date. You should always refer to the main web sites for the latest pointers and instructions:

13.3.1. PostGIS for Windows

Native Windows versions of PostgreSQL have recently become available. These allow you to install the standard PostgreSQL database and, depending on the package, may also include PostGIS functionality. For packages that don't include all the PostGIS functionality, the PostGIS libraries and scripts need to be installed and run. Some Windows installation packages have been created to help automate this.

The official install package for PostgreSQL is available at ftp://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/binary/. Under the most recent version, there is a Windows folder.

One version was developed by Mark Cave-Ayland and is available from his web site, http://www.webbased.co.uk/mca/. He includes links to the main PostgreSQL installers as well as his own package containing PostGIS and other spatial libraries such as GEOS and Proj. This package is used by many people who frequent the PostGIS mailing list (which is the place to ask questions when you run into difficulty). See this link to search the archives of the mailing list or to subscribe to it: http://postgis.refractions.net/support.php.

PostGIS is also available as a MapServer for Windows package. See the MS4W download page for notes and the package to download: http://www.maptools.org/ms4w/. MS4W is easy to install and start using.

Another PostGIS installer is available as part of the DC Maintenance Management System (DCMMS) at http://dcmms.sourceforge.net/.

13.3.2. PostGIS for Linux

Different Linux distributions tend to have different easy-to-install versions of PostgreSQL and PostGIS. RPM and Debian packages are probably two of the most common.

French readers may be interested in this page, which describes some installation sources in French: http://www.01map.com/download/.

13.3.2.1 RPM packages

If you are looking for simplicity (and your operating system supports them), RPM packages are probably your best bet. Packages are available from a couple of sources. As with the Windows sources mentioned previously, you will get the PostgreSQL database package and then either compile your own PostGIS portion or install a PostGIS package. If you just want a PostgreSQL database, try going directly to a PostgreSQL download mirror and searching under the binary and rpms folders for your platform. RedHat 9 and Fedora Core 1 and 2 are both available at ftp://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/binary/v8.0.1.

If you intend to compile your own PostGIS support using these packages, you will need to install the source RPM packages as well. PostGIS compilation needs access to files that come only with the source PostgreSQL packages.

Refractions Research hosts a comprehensive set of RPM packages including a PostGIS package. They also have packages for Fedora, Mandrake, RedHat, SuSE, and source packages as well. You can find these packages at http://postgis.refractions.net/rpms/.

13.3.2.2 Debian packages

These sites have several open source GIS-related packages available for Debian Linux:

http://agrogeomatic.educagri.fr/debian

http://www.bitdaddy.com/gisdebs

For more details about how to build PostGIS in a Debian environment, the following document may be helpful: http://edseek.com/archives/2004/03/31/installing-postgis-on-debian-gnulinux/.

13.3.3. PostGIS for Mac OS X

There are definitely some people using PostGIS in a Mac OS X environment, but getting access to prepackaged binaries and instructions isn't easy. The best way to get help is to contact users on the PostGIS mailing list at http://postgis.refractions.net/mailman/listinfo/postgis-users.

By searching the mailing list, you should be able to find someone else who is using PostGIS on OS X. Most users are more than happy to help fellow Mac users along in their PostGIS quest. A PostgreSQL package exists on FINK at http://fink.sourceforge.net/pdb/package.php/postgresql74.

The development package (which includes files you'll need if you compile PostGIS yourself) is available at http://fink.sourceforge.net/pdb/package.php/postgresql74-dev. Note that these packages are slightly older than the current version and may not include the most recent functionality.

Marc Liyanaga's web site also has some packages and instructions for getting started: http://www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/postgresql/.