# Connecting to PostgreSQL Database **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [October 1, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/connecting-to-postgresql-database/116011 "2007-10-01T17:02:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mwalsh)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/connecting-to-postgresql-database/116011/1 "2007-10-01T17:02:07Z")
Hello, I am trying to move data from one postgres database to another using the Ruby postgres adapter. However, I keep getting a password authentication error whenever I try. My sysadmin keeps indicating that there is no password on that database and the Rails apps I use don’t indicate any password in database.yml and work fine. Am I being lied to or is there some other secret I don’t know? Thanks for any help or suggestions. Here’s the code I’m using (and line 184 DOES work): 184: db1 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver1.blah.com](http://dbserver1.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, ‘database1\_name’, ‘username’, ‘password’) 185: db2 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver2.blah.com](http://dbserver2.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, ‘database2\_name’, ‘username’, ‘’) And here’s the error: c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/postgres-pr/ connection.rb:55:in `initialize': FATAL C28000 MPassword authentication failed for user "username" Fauth.c L395 Rauth_failed (RuntimeError) from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ postgres-pr/connection.rb:29:in `loop’ from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ postgres-pr/connection.rb:29:in `initialize' from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ postgres-pr/postgres-compat.rb:23:in `new’ from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ postgres-pr/postgres-compat.rb:23:in `initialize' from DataFetcher.rb:185:in `connect’ from DataFetcher.rb:185 ---
**Author:** ![mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mwalsh)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/connecting-to-postgresql-database/116011/2 "2007-10-01T17:07:28Z")
On 10/1/07, Matt W. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > 184: db1 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver1.blah.com](http://dbserver1.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, > from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ > postgres-pr/connection.rb:29:in `loop' from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ postgres-pr/connection.rb:29:in `initialize’ > from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ > postgres-pr/postgres-compat.rb:23:in `new' from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/postgres-pr-0.4.0/lib/ postgres-pr/postgres-compat.rb:23:in `initialize’ > from DataFetcher.rb:185:in `connect’ > from DataFetcher.rb:185 Have you tried giving it a nil for the password rather than an empty string? V/r Anthony ---
**Author:** ![mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mwalsh)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/connecting-to-postgresql-database/116011/3 "2007-10-01T17:16:51Z")
> 184: db1 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver1.blah.com](http://dbserver1.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, > ‘database1\_name’, ‘username’, ‘password’) > 185: db2 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver2.blah.com](http://dbserver2.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, > ‘database2\_name’, ‘username’, ‘’) Are you sure that the passwordless connection works okay from the machine you’re attempting from? You can configure postgres to only accept connections from certain ip addresses for certain users. A lot of times, the default is to allow passwordless login from localhost, but not from remote hosts. ---
**Author:** ![mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mwalsh)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/connecting-to-postgresql-database/116011/4 "2007-10-01T21:46:12Z")
Turns out I _was_ lied to. There is a password on there. Sorry to trouble you all. ---
**Author:** ![mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mwalsh](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mwalsh)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/connecting-to-postgresql-database/116011/5 "2007-10-01T17:40:52Z")
On Oct 1, 9:15 am, “Caleb T.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > 184: db1 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver1.blah.com](http://dbserver1.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, > > ‘database1\_name’, ‘username’, ‘password’) > > 185: db2 = PGconn.connect(‘[dbserver2.blah.com](http://dbserver2.blah.com)’, 5432, ‘’, ‘’, > > ‘database2\_name’, ‘username’, ‘’) > > Are you sure that the passwordless connection works okay from the machine you’re > attempting from? You can configure postgres to only accept connections from certain > ip addresses for certain users. A lot of times, the default is to allow > passwordless login from localhost, but not from remote hosts. I tried using nil and got a ‘no password specified error’. Looking at the pg\_hba.conf file I see the login I’m using allowed for both internet IP addresses we have, so it’s not just restricted to localhost. Any other ideas?