Cannot create/restore a backup of PostgreSQL database: Cannot run PostgreSQL client tools; make sure that they are installed

Samuel Figueredo

Updated December 04, 2023 15:22

Symptoms

An attempt to create a database server, or domain backup with a PostgreSQL database finishes with the following or similar warning:

PLESK_WARN: Cannot run PostgreSQL client tools; make sure that they are installed: https://support.plesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/13302814628631. Unable to make database dump. Error: Unable to exec pg_dump: proc_open(): CreateProcess failed, error code: 2
An attempt to restore a server or domain backup with a PostgreSQL database included finishes with a similar warning:

PLESK_WARN: 'pg_restore.exe --file "backup_dbdump_2310230905.list" --list "backup_dbdump_2310230905"' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Running pg_dump, or pg_restore in CLI shows a similar message:

PS pg_dump
pg_dump : The term 'pg_dump' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program.
Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1

pg_dump
'pg_dump' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

# pg_dump
-bash: pg_dump: command not found

PostgreSQL client tools are not installed or have not been added to the system PATH variable.

For Debian-based distributions (Ubuntu, Debian)

For RHEL-based distributions (CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, CloudLinux, RHEL)

For Windows

Connect to the server via RDP.
Download the PostgreSQL distribution from the official website.
Run the MSI installer downloaded to install the PostgreSQL Client Tools component on the server.
Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables > System variables > and append the PATH environmental variable to the directory path where client tools were installed.
Restart Plesk services