title: "root" execution of the PostgreSQL server is not permitted
body: <p>When I try to start postgresql I get an error:</p>
  
  <pre><code>postgres
  </code></pre>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>postgres does not know where to find the server configuration file.<br>
    You must specify the --config-file or -D invocation option or set the
    PGDATA environment variable.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>So then I try to set my config file:</p>
  
  <pre><code>postgres -D /usr/local/var/postgres
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And I get the following error:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>postgres cannot access the server configuration file "/usr/local/var/postgres/postgresql.conf": Permission denied</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Hmm okay. Next, I try to perform that same action as an admin:</p>
  
  <pre><code> sudo postgres -D /usr/local/var/postgres
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And I receive the following error:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>"root" execution of the PostgreSQL server is not permitted.<br>
    The server must be started under an unprivileged user ID to prevent
    possible system security compromise.  See the documentation for more
    information on how to properly start the server.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I googled around for that error message but cannot find a solution.<br>
  Can anyone provide some insight into this?</p>