Install

Install extension packages on cluster nodes

Pigsty uses the operating system’s package manager (yum/apt) to install extension packages.

Use these two parameters to specify which extensions to install:

Parameter	Purpose	Default Behavior
`pg_packages`	Global common packages	Ensure present (no upgrade)
`pg_extensions`	Cluster-specific extensions	Install latest version

Use pg_packages for essential extensions and base components that all clusters need. Typical components include the PostgreSQL kernel, Patroni, and pgBouncer.

Use pg_extensions for extensions that specific clusters need.

pg_packages:                           # Global base packages
  - pgsql-main pgsql-common
pg_extensions:                         # Cluster extensions
  - postgis timescaledb pgvector

Install During Cluster Initialization

Declare extensions in the cluster configuration. Pigsty installs them automatically during initialization:

pg-meta:
  hosts: { 10.10.10.10: { pg_seq: 1, pg_role: primary } }
  vars:
    pg_cluster: pg-meta
    pg_extensions: [ postgis, timescaledb, pgvector, pg_duckdb ]

When you run ./pgsql.yml to initialize the cluster, Pigsty installs the extensions automatically.

Install Extensions on Existing Cluster

For an initialized cluster, use one of these methods to install extensions:

Using Pigsty Playbook

# Install using playbook after modifying configuration
./pgsql.yml -l pg-meta -t pg_extension

# Or specify extensions directly on command line
./pgsql.yml -l pg-meta -t pg_extension -e '{"pg_extensions":["pg_duckdb"]}'

Using pig Package Manager

# Install extension using pig
pig install pg_duckdb

# Batch install
ansible pg-meta -b -a 'pig install pg_duckdb pgvector'

Using Package Manager Directly

# EL systems
sudo yum install -y pg_duckdb_18*

# Debian/Ubuntu systems
sudo apt install -y postgresql-18-pg-duckdb

Using Package Aliases

Pigsty supports standard package aliases. It converts each alias to the package name for the applicable PostgreSQL version:

pg_extensions:
  - pgvector           # Auto-translates to pgvector_18* (EL) or postgresql-18-pgvector (Debian)
  - postgis            # Auto-translates to postgis36_18* (EL) or postgresql-18-postgis-3* (Debian)
  - pgsql-gis          # Category alias, installs entire GIS category of extensions

You can also use raw package names directly:

pg_extensions:
  - pgvector_18*                    # EL system raw package name
  - postgresql-18-pgvector          # Debian system raw package name

For package alias definitions, see:

Verify Installation

After installation, run these checks in the database:

-- Check installed extensions
SELECT * FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'vector';

-- Check if extension files exist
\dx