i did the following
./configure
gmake
su
gmake install
adduser postgres
mkdir /usr/local/pgsql/data
chown postgres /usr/local/pgsql/data
su - postgres
/usr/local/pgsql/bin/initdb -D /usr/local/pgsql/data
/usr/local/pgsql/bin/postmaster -D /usr/local/pgsql/data >logfile 2>&1 &

Then tried to test it got this

root@ggx:~/sql/postgresql-7.4# /usr/local/pgsql/bin/createdb test
createdb: could not connect to database template1: could not connect to server: Connection refused
Is the server running locally and accepting
connections on Unix domain socket "/tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432"?
root@ggx:~/sql/postgresql-7.4#

during the ./configure, gmake, gmake install stages no errors were recorded. when i do this to check the status.

root@ggx:~/sql/postgresql-7.4# /usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /usr/local/pgsql/data -l logfile start
postmaster successfully started
root@ggx:~/sql/postgresql-7.4# /usr/bin/pg_ctl -D /usr/local/pgsql/data status
pg_ctl: postmaster or postgres not running
root@ggx:~/sql/postgresql-7.4#

Which is odd because its started then for some reason it doesnt work anymore. Can any one help me?