Don't find /var/lib/postgresql/data/ directory on ubuntu when created docker image

Question

I found the following mentioned at many places -

docker run -d \
    --name some-postgres \
    -e POSTGRES_PASSWORD=mysecretpassword \
    -e PGDATA=/var/lib/postgresql/data/pgdata \
    -v /custom/mount:/var/lib/postgresql/data \
    postgres

My only question is that I am unable to find /var/lib/postgresql/data/pgdata directory itself. I don't see any postgresql directory under /var/lib. Why is it? And just wonder how does it work if there is no directory?

For one who voted negative on it, the following command could have helped instead docker exec -it <container name> /bin/bash. I wasn't sure that it goes inside the container just like the directories outside it. — a p
– a p, Commented May 18, 2020 at 13:40

Vesa Karjalainen · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-18 10:14:45Z

1

The -v in your command mounts /custom/mount on your host (the machine where you run docker command) to container's /var/lib/postgresql/data. So the pgdata you are looking for is on host's /custom/mount/pgdata.

Of course, /custom/data is only an example name, you have to replace it with your real directory.

answered May 18, 2020 at 10:14

Vesa Karjalainen

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6 Comments

a p Over a year ago

If I don't mount, where can I find /var/lib/postgresql/data ?

kokserek Over a year ago

I have the same question, too

Mathieu Over a year ago

@infinite i have the same question: when not mounted, where can i find /var/lib/postgresql/data? did you find it?

Vesa Karjalainen Over a year ago

If you don't mount a directory from your host machine, then the directory exists only inside the container. When you recreate the container, all data is lost, unless you mounted a persistent disk

Mathieu Over a year ago

@VesaKarjalainen yes i definitely understood the part you mentioned above but i'm trying to symlink /var/lib/postgresql/data to a location inside my codebase (which is persisted). The issue is i can't locate /var/lib/postgresql/data :(

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