postgres database framework disappeared

[Johann Spies <jhspies@adept.co.za>]

Postgresql 6.5.3 on a mixed slink/potato system.

I don't know how this happened.  Suddenly postgres's postmaster is not
running and trying to make it run results in the following error
message:

There is no PostgreSQL database framework in /var/postgres/data.
Run initdb as the postgres user to create it.

The directory of /var/postgres/data shows:
---------------------------------------------------
drwx------   3 postgres postgres     1024 Sep  2  1999 .
drwxr-xr-x   3 postgres postgres     1024 Sep  2  1999 ..
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres        4 Sep  2  1999 PG_VERSION
drwx------   5 postgres postgres     1024 Nov  1  1999 base
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres     8192 May 15 14:50 pg_database
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres     3407 Sep  2  1999 pg_geqo.sample
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres        0 Sep  2  1999 pg_group
lrwxrwxrwx   1 postgres postgres       27 Sep  2  1999 pg_hba.conf -> /etc/postgresql/pg_hba.conf
lrwxrwxrwx   1 postgres postgres       29 Sep  2  1999 pg_ident.conf -> /etc/postgresql/pg_ident.conf
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres    98304 Jun  1 16:17 pg_log
-rw-rw-rw-   1 postgres postgres       53 Sep  2  1999 pg_pwd
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres     8192 Sep  2  1999 pg_shadow
-rw-------   1 postgres postgres     8192 Jun  1 16:17 pg_variable
-------------------------------------------------

I can run initdb and restore the previous day's backup, but how can
this happen?  Is there another way to repair it?

Regards.

Johann
-- 
J.H. Spies, Hugenotestraat 29, Posbus 80, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
Tel/Faks 021-876-2337 Sel/Cell 082 898 1528(Johann) 082 255 2388(Hester)
     "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that 
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