Wiki / Configuration Parameters

Specifies the TCP/IP address(es) on which the server is to listen for connections from client applications. The value takes the form of a comma-separated list of host names and/or numeric IP addresses. The special entry * corresponds to all available IP interfaces. The entry 0.0.0.0 allows listening for all IPv4 addresses and :: allows listening for all IPv6 addresses. If the list is empty, the server does not listen on any IP interface at all, in which case only Unix-domain sockets can be used to connect to it. If the list is not empty, the server will start if it can listen on at least one TCP/IP address. A warning will be emitted for any TCP/IP address which cannot be opened. The default value is localhost, which allows only local TCP/IP “loopback” connections to be made. While client authentication (Chapter 20) allows fine-grained control over who can access the server, listen_addresses controls which interfaces accept connection attempts, which can help prevent repeated malicious connection requests on insecure network interfaces. This parameter can only be set at server start.

English manual coverage begins with PostgreSQL 7.4. Source history and runtime observations have their own recorded version boundaries.

boot val

localhost

category

Connections and Authentication / Connection Settings

context

postmaster

documented

true

enumvals

Unknown

extra desc

Unknown

lang

en

max val

Unknown

metadata version

18

min val

Unknown

name

listen_addresses

short desc

Sets the host name or IP address(es) to listen to.

source

pg-settings-source-snapshot

unit

Unknown

vartype

string