PostgreSQL Database Server Installation

This guide is for setting up a PostgreSQL database server under Windows XP/Vista/7. Note that installing PostgreSQL on your own computer is not required as you can use the one on CS3, but you may find it more convenient to have a local database setup, and it also allows you experiment with some database management functionality (e.g. security) that require superuser privilege. 

The software is freely available for download at PostgreSQL.org. Download and run the One Click Installer. During installation you may leave everything to default except that in the last step, you should uncheck the "Stack Builder" option as you won't be installing any additional software.

It is recommended that you do not use the PostgreSQL superuser account postgres to perform day-to-day database operations, so create another user and a database with the same name as the user.

A screen capture video illustrating the installation process is available here.