Start postgresql for the first time

[Bob Parnes <rparnes@megalink.net>]

After using mysql for several years, I decided to try the testing 
version of postgresql, but I cannot get started. I cannot log in to 
create users, and I cannot create a database.

According to the documentation, the system contains a predefined user,
'postgres'. However, when I run

psql -U postgres

I get the error message, 'No database specified'. When I run

psql -U postgres -l

I get the message, 'IDENT authentication failed for user "postgres"'.

I find a similar problem with createdb. According to the documentation,
a default database is created with the same name as the user, but the
directory /var/lib/postgres contains only a single directory, data.
When I try to create a database with createdb, I get the same problem
with authentication. 

I feel I am doing something wrong but don't what it is. I had no trouble
with mysql and will continue using it if necessary, but I would like to
compare the two if possible. thanks for any help.


-- 
Bob Parnes
rparnes@megalink.net