PostgreSQL Error 58P01 occurs when the server cannot locate a required file. This commonly happens with missing extension control files, incorrect file paths in COPY commands, or file permission issues. Fixing it requires verifying file paths, checking permissions, and restarting the database service.
The PostgreSQL Error Code 58P01 indicates that the database server is unable to find a file it expects to be present. This error typically occurs when PostgreSQL tries to access configuration files, extension control files, or data files during operations like CREATE EXTENSION, COPY commands, or system initialization. The error can manifest in different contexts: extension installation failures, backup restoration issues, or data import operations. The underlying cause is always a file access problem—either the file does not exist at the specified path, the path is incorrect, or the PostgreSQL process lacks permission to read it.
For COPY operations, double-check the file path in your SQL command:
-- Incorrect: File does not exist at this path
COPY my_table FROM '/wrong/path/data.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv);
-- Correct: Use the actual file path
COPY my_table FROM '/home/user/data.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv);For extension issues, verify the extension is installed:
# On Ubuntu/Debian
ls /usr/share/postgresql/*/extension/
# On CentOS/RHEL
ls /usr/pgsql-*/share/extension/The PostgreSQL system user (usually postgres) must have read permissions for the file:
# Check current permissions
ls -l /path/to/file
# Make the file readable by the postgres user
sudo chmod 644 /path/to/file
# If in a directory, ensure the postgres user can enter it
sudo chmod 755 /path/to/directory
# Change ownership if needed
sudo chown postgres:postgres /path/to/fileIf the error relates to an extension like PostGIS or TimescaleDB, reinstall it:
# For PostGIS on Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install postgresql-contrib postgresql-<version>-postgis
# For TimescaleDB
sudo apt-get install timescaledb-postgresql-<version>
# Then restart PostgreSQL
sudo systemctl restart postgresqlAlways use absolute paths (starting with /) rather than relative paths when referencing files in SQL:
-- Bad: Relative path (PostgreSQL does not work from your current directory)
COPY my_table FROM './data.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv);
-- Good: Absolute path
COPY my_table FROM '/home/user/data.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv);
-- For COPY TO (exporting), PostgreSQL must write to a directory the postgres user owns
COPY my_table TO '/var/lib/postgresql/export.csv' WITH (FORMAT csv);After making changes to file permissions or reinstalling extensions, restart PostgreSQL:
# On systemd systems
sudo systemctl restart postgresql
# Or use the service command
sudo service postgresql restart
# Verify it is running
sudo systemctl status postgresqlFor COPY operations, be aware that PostgreSQL 9.0+ does not allow COPY TO write to arbitrary file paths for security reasons. The file path must point to a location owned by the PostgreSQL system user or use stdin/stdout. If you need to export data, consider using COPY TO STDOUT and redirecting it in your application code. For development environments using Docker or VM-based PostgreSQL, ensure the container or VM has sufficient disk space and the data directory is properly mounted. If you encounter errors related to pg_xact or base directory files, this indicates potential data directory corruption and may require recovery procedures like using pg_resetwal after careful backup considerations. When chdir() is used within PL/pgSQL procedures, it can cause path resolution issues; avoid changing directories within database functions.
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