Cause (Documented platform behavior): Layout change to match pg_ctlcluster and allow pg_upgrade --link; a major-version image bump doesn't upgrade existing data.
Fix status: documented_behavior
Misleading approaches:
- Pinning postgres:latest and only changing the mount path — the old major's data still needs pg_upgrade/dump-restore.
Limitations:
- Source/docs-derived; not reproduced.
Other error fragments:
- This is usually the result of upgrading the Docker image without
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/docker-library/postgres/d588a44673ea9d123c1acb1a6924de10a27fc315/docker-entrypoint.sh (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): For PGDATA=/var/lib/postgresql/$PG_MAJOR/docker the entrypoint scans /var/lib/postgresql, /var/lib/postgresql/data and */docker for PG_VERSION and, on 18+, flags a mount at /var/lib/postgresql/data as '(unused mount/volume)'; prints the 18+ layout error suggesting a single mount at /var/lib/postgresql and pg_upgrade.
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/docker-library/docs/f6cdf463b06b15ea55b0761cc9a677b40b6483b1/postgres/content.md (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): PGDATA changed to be version specific in 18+ (/var/lib/postgresql/18/docker), VOLUME moved to /var/lib/postgresql; for 17 and below mount at /var/lib/postgresql/data, since mounts at /var/lib/postgresql won't persist data.
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/docker-library/postgres/d588a44673ea9d123c1acb1a6924de10a27fc315/Dockerfile-debian.template (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): In 18+ PGDATA matches pg_ctlcluster layout and VOLUME moved from /var/lib/postgresql/data to /var/lib/postgresql.
Search phrasings: in 18+, these Docker images are configured to store database data in a format which is compatible with pg_ctlcluster; postgres 18 docker /var/lib/postgresql/data unused mount volume; postgres:latest upgrade 18 compose volume error
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Container refuses to start listing old data locations (or an unused mount at /var/lib/postgresql/data).
- Context
- Product: postgres official Docker image Component: PGDATA / VOLUME layout change in 18+ Operation: Upgrading an image tag (or using :latest) in compose/k8s manifests written for <=17 that mount a volume at /var/lib/postgresql/data Affected versions: unknown Environment: unknown Packages: postgres >=18 Trigger: PG 18+ images use PGDATA=/var/lib/postgresql/<major>/docker and VOLUME /var/lib/postgresql; the entrypoint errors if it finds PG_VERSION in old locations or a mount at /var/lib/postgresql/data.
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Error: in 18+, these Docker images are configured to store database data in a format which is compatible with "pg_ctlcluster"
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [postgres:18+ Docker image (postgres:latest)] 'Error: in 18+, these Docker images are configured to store database data in a format which is compatible with "pg_ctlcluster" ... /var/lib/
Recommended action: New databases: mount a single volume at /var/lib/postgresql. Existing data from <=17: pin the old major tag, or run pg_upgrade (both versions) / dump & restore, then move to the new layout. For <=17 keep mounting /var/lib/postgresql/data (mounting /var/lib/postgresql there does NOT persist).
Option: Use the new mount point (new DB) or pin/upgrade [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: See record scope.
Steps:
1. New: volumes: - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql
2. Existing <=17 data: image: postgres:17 (pin) until you pg_upgrade or dump/restore
Expected: Command proceeds without the error.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- 2d83bb82-c432-4fa0-a01d-7fceeb80a3bf
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: New databases: mount a single volume at /var/lib/postgresql. Existing data from <=17: pin the old major tag, or run pg_upgrade (both versions) / dump & restore, then move to the new layout. For <=17 keep mounting /var/lib/postgresql/data (mounting /var/lib/postgresql there does NOT persist). Option: Use the new mount point (new DB) or pin/upgrade [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: See record scope. Steps: 1. New: volumes: - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql 2. Existing <=17 data: image: postgres:17 (pin) until you pg_upgrade or dump/restore Expected: Command proceeds without the error.
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.