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Configuring Server Mode in Ubuntu

What Will You Learn in This Guide?​

This guide teaches you how to install pgAdmin 4 in Server Mode on an Ubuntu-based server, run it in a Python virtual environment, and expose it to the web with Nginx + Gunicorn.

1. Technical Summary​

Purpose: To install pgAdmin 4 in a Python virtual environment and provide graphical PostgreSQL management.
Steps: Dependency installation → venv activation → pgAdmin installation → config → Gunicorn + Nginx → PostgreSQL connection.

2. Installing pgAdmin 4 and Dependencies​

2.1 Update package directory:​

sudo apt update

This command refreshes the package list on the system.

2.2 Install dependencies:​

sudo apt install libgmp3-dev libpq-dev

Installs the basic libraries required for pgAdmin to work.

2.3 Create the necessary directories:​

sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/pgadmin4/sessions
sudo mkdir /var/lib/pgadmin4/storage
sudo mkdir /var/log/pgadmin4

Creates folders for pgAdmin's session, storage and log files.

2.4 Edit directory permissions:​

sudo chown -R sammy:sammy /var/lib/pgadmin4 /var/log/pgadmin4

Grants temporary permission for pgAdmin to write during installation.

2.5 Activate the virtual environment:​

cd environments/
source my_env/bin/activate

Allows you to install pgAdmin in an isolated Python environment.

Update 2.6 pip:​

python -m pip install -U pip

Ensures that pip in the virtual environment is up to date.

Download the 2.7 pgAdmin wheel file:​

wget https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/pgadmin/pgadmin4/v6.10/pip/pgadmin4-6.10-py3-none-any.whl

Downloads the Python distribution package for pgAdmin 4.

Install the 2.8 wheel package:​

python -m pip install wheel

Provides the necessary tools to install .whl files.

Install the 2.9 pgAdmin 4 package:​

python -m pip install pgadmin4-6.10-py3-none-any.whl

Installs pgAdmin into the virtual environment.

Install the 2.10 Gunicorn WSGI server:​

python -m pip install gunicorn

Installs the application server that will run pgAdmin on the web.

3. pgAdmin 4 Configuration​

3.1 Create config_local.py:​

nano my_env/lib/python3.10/site-packages/pgadmin4/config_local.py

Opens the file to customize pgAdmin settings.

3.2 Add the following configuration:​

LOG_FILE = '/var/log/pgadmin4/pgadmin4.log'
SQLITE_PATH = '/var/lib/pgadmin4/pgadmin4.db'
SESSION_DB_PATH = '/var/lib/pgadmin4/sessions'
STORAGE_DIR = '/var/lib/pgadmin4/storage'
SERVER_MODE = True

Puts pgAdmin into Server Mode and defines the necessary file paths.

3.3 Run the initial user account setup:​

python my_env/lib/python3.10/site-packages/pgadmin4/setup.py

Creates an admin account to log in to the pgAdmin panel.

4. Gunicorn and Nginx Configuration​

4.1 Sample Nginx reverse proxy configuration:​

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name panel.ornek.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://unix:/tmp/pgadmin4.sock;
        include proxy_params;
    }
}

Nginx redirects external requests to the Gunicorn socket.

4.2 Launch Gunicorn:​

gunicorn --bind unix:/tmp/pgadmin4.sock --workers=1 --threads=25 \
--chdir ~/environments/my_env/lib/python3.10/site-packages/pgadmin4 pgAdmin4:app

Runs the pgAdmin application via Gunicorn.

5. Assigning a Password to PostgreSQL User​

5.1 Introduction to PostgreSQL:​

sudo -u sammy psql

Opens command line as PostgreSQL super user.

5.2 Assign password to user:​

ALTER USER sammy PASSWORD 'GüçlüBirParola123';

Enables pgAdmin to connect to PostgreSQL.

5.3 Quit PostgreSQL:​

\q

Ends the PSQL session.

6. Accessing the pgAdmin Web Interface​

  • Type in your browser:
http://panel.ornek.com

You will reach the pgAdmin login screen.

7. Adding PostgreSQL Server to pgAdmin​

7.1 Connection settings:​

  • Host: localhost
  • Port: 5432
  • Maintenance DB: sammy
  • Username: sammy
  • Password: the password you specify

Creates connection between pgAdmin and PostgreSQL.

8. Creating a Table and Adding Data​

8.1 Sample INSERT query:​

INSERT INTO public."table01"(col1, col2, col3)
VALUES ('Juneau', 14, 337),
       ('Bismark', 90, 2334),
       ('Lansing', 51, 556);

Adds sample data to the table you create.

Frequently Asked Questions​

1. Why is pgAdmin 4 preferred? Because it offers a modern, fast and web-based management panel.

2. What does Server Mode do? It turns pgAdmin into a multi-user web panel.

3. Why use Gunicorn and Nginx together? Gunicorn runs the application, Nginx provides secure access from the outside world.

4. Why does PostgreSQL require a password? GUI tools require password-based connection.

5. What to do to run Gunicorn permanently? Supervisor or systemd service is created.

Result​

With this guide, you installed and configured pgAdmin 4 on Ubuntu and integrated it with PostgreSQL.
You can now manage your database via the graphical web panel.

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