# Initializing the pgactive extension capability
Initializing the pgactive extension

To initialize the `pgactive` extension capability on your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance, set the value of the `rds.enable_pgactive` parameter to `1` and then create the extension in the database. Doing so automatically turns on the parameters `rds.logical_replication` and `track_commit_timestamp` and sets the value of `wal_level` to `logical`. 

You must have permissions as the `rds_superuser` role to perform these tasks.

You can use the Amazon Web Services Management Console or the Amazon CLI to create the required RDS for PostgreSQL DB instances. The steps following assume that your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance is associated with a custom DB parameter group. For information about creating a custom DB parameter group, see [Parameter groups for Amazon RDS](USER_WorkingWithParamGroups.md).

## Console


**To initialize the pgactive extension capability**

1. Sign in to the Amazon Web Services Management Console and open the Amazon RDS console at [https://console.amazonaws.cn/rds/](https://console.amazonaws.cn/rds/).

1. In the navigation pane, choose your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance.

1. Open the **Configuration** tab for your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance. In the instance details, find the **DB instance parameter group** link. 

1. Choose the link to open the custom parameters associated with your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance. 

1. Find the `rds.enable_pgactive` parameter, and set it to `1` to initialize the `pgactive` capability.

1. Choose **Save changes**.

1. In the navigation pane of the Amazon RDS console, choose **Databases**.

1. Select your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance, and then choose **Reboot** from the **Actions** menu.

1. Confirm the DB instance reboot so that your changes take effect. 

1. When the DB instance is available, you can use `psql` or any other PostgreSQL client to connect to the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance. 

   The following example assumes that your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance has a default database named *postgres*.

   ```
   psql --host=mydb.111122223333.aws-region.rds.amazonaws.com --port=5432 --username=postgres --password=PASSWORD --dbname=postgres
   ```

1. To verify that pgactive is initialized, run the following command.

   ```
   postgres=>SELECT setting ~ 'pgactive' 
   FROM pg_catalog.pg_settings
   WHERE name = 'shared_preload_libraries';
   ```

   If `pgactive` is in `shared_preload_libraries`, the preceding command will return the following:

   ```
   ?column? 
   ----------
    t
   ```

## Amazon CLI
Amazon CLI

**To initialize the pgactive extension capability**

To initialize the `pgactive` using the Amazon CLI, call the [modify-db-parameter-group](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/cli/latest/reference/rds/modify-db-parameter-group.html) operation to modify certain parameters in your custom parameter group as shown in the following procedure.

1. Use the following Amazon CLI command to set `rds.enable_pgactive` to `1` to initialize the `pgactive` capability for the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance.

   ```
   postgres=>aws rds modify-db-parameter-group \
      --db-parameter-group-name custom-param-group-name \
      --parameters "ParameterName=rds.enable_pgactive,ParameterValue=1,ApplyMethod=pending-reboot" \
      --region aws-region
   ```

1. Use the following Amazon CLI command to reboot the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance so that the `pgactive` library is initialized.

   ```
   aws rds reboot-db-instance \
       --db-instance-identifier your-instance \
       --region aws-region
   ```

1. When the instance is available, use `psql` to connect to the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance. 

   ```
   psql --host=mydb.111122223333.aws-region.rds.amazonaws.com --port=5432 --username=master user --password=PASSWORD --dbname=postgres
   ```

1. To verify that pgactive is initialized, run the following command.

   ```
   postgres=>SELECT setting ~ 'pgactive' 
   FROM pg_catalog.pg_settings
   WHERE name = 'shared_preload_libraries';
   ```

   If `pgactive` is in `shared_preload_libraries`, the preceding command will return the following:

   ```
   ?column? 
   ----------
    t
   ```