Postgresql 8.4 seems to be installed properly, according to this:
sudo yum install postgresql
Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, rhnplugin, security, subscription-manager
This system is not registered to Red Hat Subscription Management. You can
use subscription-manager to register.
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or RHN Satellite.
Setting up Install Process
Package postgresql-8.4.13-1.el6_3.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Nothing to do
However, when I try to run this, it's unrecognized:
$ sudo /sbin/service postgresql initdb
postgresql: unrecognized service
This is RHEL 6.3
Best Answer
You need to install postgresql-server to get the System V init scripts and server binaries.