VPOP3 version 3.x and later require a PostgreSQL installation to be able to work. For most users, the installer will automatically install PostgreSQL on the same PC as VPOP3 and configure it appropriately, but this article explains how to manually install and configure PostgreSQL for advanced users who may want install it differently (eg on a different PC or drive) or if you are having problems using the normal installer.

VPOP3 versions 3 or 4 require PostgreSQL 8.3 or later. VPOP3 version 5 requires PostgreSQL 9.1 or later. So, it may be best to install PostgreSQL 9.1 if you are installing manually, to avoid the need for a database server upgrade if you upgrade to VPOP3 version 5 later. (There are no known incompatibilities between VPOP3 versions 3-4 and PostgreSQL 9.1 - later versions of PostgreSQL may introduce incompatibilities)

Download the relevant version of PostgreSQL from http://www.enterprisedb.com/products-services-training/pgdownload#windows - note that VPOP3 will work with either the 32 or 64 bit versions of PostgreSQL, although the standard distribution distributes the 32 bit version. You can use whichever version you wish.

Once you have downloaded the installer run it

1. For the Installation Directory, we recommend you use the pgsql folder of the VPOP3 installation directory - e.g. c:\VPOP3\pgsql
2. The Data Directory will usually choose the correct folder which is the pgsql\data folder of the VPOP3 installation directory - e.g. c:\VPOP3\pgsql\data
3. When the installer asks for the Password enter a password you will remember. The default we use is pgsqlpass, but obviously you may use any password you prefer. However, if you forget the password you may have big problems in the future, so make sure you do not forget it!
4. The Port will default to 5432. We would recommend leaving it at that unless you have other software using that port on this computer (e.g. another PostgreSQL installation)
5. For the Locale choose C

When the installation has finished, uncheck Launch Stack Builder on Exit and Finish

Finally, you need to create a user and database for VPOP3 to use.

1. Go to Start → Programs → PostgreSQL 9.1 → pgAdmin III (assuming you installed PostgreSQL 9.1. If you installed a different version, the path may be different)
2. Right-click the PostgreSQL Database Server 9.1 (Local) in the left pane, and choose Connect
3. In the Connect to Server box enter the password you defined in step 3 above (eg pgsqlpass) and press OK
4. expand the tree in the left pane
5. Right-click on Login Roles and choose New Login Role
6. In the Role name box enter vpop3
7. Go to the Definition tab
8. In the Password and Password (again) boxes enter vpop3pass
9. Press OK
10. Right-click on Databases and choose New Database
11. In the Name box enter vpop3
12. In the Owner box choose vpop3
13. Go to the Definition tab
14. In the Template box, choose Template0
15. In the Encoding box choose SQL_ASCII
16. Press OK
17. Close down pgAdmin III because everything is now configured correctly

See video tutorial