Learning to use PostGIS deployed on your local computer is very simple. The real power of a spatial database, however, is setting it up on a server so that it can be accessed by multiple clients simultaneously. This is a little bit more complicated.
There are three primary options
- Deploying on your own or your organizations server – For this option there are so many possible configurations it would be impossible for me to provide guidance. You will need to contact your IT Dept or Contractor.
- Use a hosting service – This option allows you to essentially rent space on somebody else’s server. Its a great option to get started without spending much money, you could get started for as little as $5/month. If you have an existing hosting service you can ask them about installing PostgreSQL and PostGIS. I will be discussing two options, A2 hosting and AcuGIS.
- “The Cloud” – Another option that involves renting space on someone else’s server. Cloud hosting is generally paid for according to how many resources you use rather than on a monthly basis and can easily expand available resources on an as needed basis.
The following video discusses these options in more detail and will be followed shortly by step-by-step instructions on deploying your PostGIS database to three different platforms.
See Part 2
See Part 3
See Part 4
See Parts 5&6
If you want to learn more about PostGIS please check out my course Introduction to spatial databases with PostGIS and QGIS, with over 11 hours of content, available now at Udemy.com for $20. And if you are interested in my other courses on Web GIS and QGIS please check out my course page on this blog.