How to Allow Remote Access to PostgreSQL database

I have PostgreSQL 9.2 Installed in Windows 7 and I have windows XP installed in Virtual Machine, how do I connect these two databases and allow remote access to add/edit the database from both Systems ?

In order to remotely access a PostgreSQL database, you must set the two main PostgreSQL configuration files:

postgresql.conf
pg_hba.conf

Here is a brief description about how you can set them (note that the following description is purely indicative: To configure a machine safely, you must be familiar with all the parameters and their meanings)

First of all configure PostgreSQL service to listen on port 5432 on all network interfaces in Windows 7 machine:
open the file postgresql.conf (usually located in C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.2\data) and sets the parameter

listen_addresses = '*'

Check the network address of WindowsXP virtual machine, and sets parameters in pg_hba.conf file (located in the same directory of postgresql.conf) so that postgresql can accept connections from virtual machine hosts.
For example, if the machine with Windows XP have 192.168.56.2 IP address, add in the pg_hba.conf file:

host all all 192.168.56.1/24 md5

this way, PostgreSQL will accept connections from all hosts on the network 192.168.1.XXX.

Restart the PostgreSQL service in Windows 7 (Services-> PosgreSQL 9.2: right click and restart sevice). Install pgAdmin on windows XP machine and try to connect to PostgreSQL.

After set listen_addresses = '*' in postgresql.conf

Edit the pg_hba.conf file and add the following entry at the very end of file:

host    all             all              0.0.0.0/0                       md5
host    all             all              ::/0                            md5

For finding the config files this link might help you.

In addition to above answers suggesting (1) the modification of the configuration files pg_hba.conf and (2) postgresql.conf and (3) restarting the PostgreSQL service, some Windows computers might also require incoming TCP traffic to be allowed on the port (usually 5432).

To do this, you would need to open Windows Firewall and add an inbound rule for the port (e.g. 5432).

Head to Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Defender Firewall > Advanced Settings > Actions (right tab) > Inbound Rules > New Rule… > Port > Specific local ports and type in the port your using, usually 5432 > (defaults settings for the rest and type any name you'd like)

Now, try connecting again from pgAdmin on the client computer. Restarting the service is not required.

If using PostgreSql 9.5.1, please follow the below configuration:

1. Open hg_hba.conf in pgAdmin
2. Select your path, and open it, then add a setting
3. Restart postgresql service

In order to allow 192.X.X.X use 192.0.0.0/8.

In order to allow 192.168.X.X use 192.168.0.0/8.

In order to allow 192.168.1.X use 192.0.0.0/16.

In order to allow 192.168.1.X use 192.168.1.0/24.

In order to allow only 192.168.1.2 use 192.168.1.2/32

This is a complementary answer for the specific case of using AWS cloud computing (either EC2 or RDS machines).

Besides doing everything proposed above, when using AWS cloud computing you will need to set your inbound rules in a way that let you access to the ports.

Please check this answer about 'inbound rules'.

You have to add this to your pg_hba.conf and restart your PostgreSQL.

> host all all 192.168.56.1/24 md5

This works with VirtualBox and host-only adapter enabled. If you don't use Virtualbox you have to replace the IP address.

For PostgreSQL 13, I could not use scram-sha-256 encryption for remote connections for some reason. This worked.

# TYPE  DATABASE        USER            ADDRESS                 METHOD
local   all             all                                     scram-sha-256 # "local" is for Unix domain socket connections only
host    all             all             127.0.0.1/32            scram-sha-256 # IPv4 local connections:
host    all             all             ::1/128                 scram-sha-256 # IPv6 local connections
local   replication     all                                     scram-sha-256 # Allow replication connections from localhost, by a user with the replication privilege.
host    replication     all             127.0.0.1/32            scram-sha-256
host    replication     all             ::1/128                 scram-sha-256
host    all             all             0.0.0.0/0               trust # <---------- remote connections

A fast shortcut for restarting service on Windows:

1. Press Windows Key + R

2. Type "services.msc"

3. Order by name

4. Find "PostgreSQL" service and restart it.