</para>
<para>
- When waiting for startup, <command>pg_ctl</command> repeatedly
- attempts to connect to the server.
- When waiting for shutdown, <command>pg_ctl</command> waits for
- the server to remove its <acronym>PID</acronym> file.
+ When waiting, <command>pg_ctl</command> repeatedly checks the
+ server's <acronym>PID</acronym> file, sleeping for a short amount
+ of time between checks. Startup is considered complete when
+ the <acronym>PID</acronym> file indicates that the server is ready to
+ accept connections. Shutdown is considered complete when the server
+ removes the <acronym>PID</acronym> file.
<command>pg_ctl</command> returns an exit code based on the
success of the startup or shutdown.
</para>