The parameter file is the main location that's used for defining parameter values for the PostgreSQL server. All the parameters can be set in the parameter file, which is known as postgresql.conf. There are also two other parameter files: pg_hba.conf and pg_ident.conf. Both of these relate to connections and security, so we'll cover them in the appropriate chapters that follow.
Updating the parameter file
Getting ready
Before we start this recipe, we need to locate postgresql.conf, as described in Finding the current configuration settings recipe.
