Fix OpenProject Lockout After PostgreSQL Upgrade

by Lucas 49 views

Hey guys, have you ever run into a situation where everything seems to go south after a seemingly straightforward upgrade? I recently experienced this, and I'm here to share my story and hopefully help you avoid the same headaches. This is about OpenProject and how an upgrade to PostgreSQL 17 left all our users locked out, displaying that dreaded "Invalid user or password" message. We were running OpenProject Community Edition on Ubuntu 22.04, and the migration from Postgres 15 to Postgres 17 was meant to be a seamless improvement. Instead, it became a weekend-long troubleshooting saga. Let's dive into what went wrong and, more importantly, how we fixed it.

Understanding the Problem: Why Users Were Locked Out

So, the situation was this: After the PostgreSQL 17 upgrade, every single user in our OpenProject instance was met with an access denied message. It was like the system had forgotten everyone. The error message, although simple, pointed towards an authentication issue: "Invalid user or password or the account is disabled." The core issue, we later discovered, wasn't a simple password reset scenario. It stemmed from how OpenProject interacts with the database and how PostgreSQL handles user authentication, especially across version upgrades. It turned out that the upgrade process somehow disrupted the connection between OpenProject and the new PostgreSQL instance. There are several potential culprits here, and we explored each one methodically.

First, we checked the obvious: the database configuration in OpenProject's settings. We made sure the database host, port, username, and password were all correct and matched the new PostgreSQL 17 setup. This is usually the first point of failure, but everything seemed fine. Then, we investigated PostgreSQL's side. We looked at the pg_hba.conf file (this controls client authentication) to ensure our OpenProject server's IP address or network range had the correct permissions. This file dictates who can connect to the database and how. If the settings in pg_hba.conf were too restrictive, it could prevent OpenProject from connecting. We checked the roles and permissions of the OpenProject user in the PostgreSQL database. Did the user have the necessary privileges to access the OpenProject database? It's possible the upgrade process altered or dropped these permissions. We also considered whether the upgrade had affected any extensions or configurations that OpenProject relied on, such as specific PostgreSQL extensions. The version change could have broken compatibility. We systematically went through each potential point of failure, from OpenProject's settings to PostgreSQL's configuration, to pinpoint the root cause. And the fun part is that we had to learn a bit about the new version of postgres to compare and validate. The user is the root of the problem, but we need to investigate a few more things to make sure we can fix them.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting: How We Fixed the OpenProject Lockout

Alright, so here's a detailed walkthrough of the steps we took to resolve the user lockout issue. This is the part where we rolled up our sleeves and started getting our hands dirty. The goal was to meticulously eliminate potential causes and arrive at a solution. This involved examining logs, verifying configurations, and testing connections. Hopefully, this will help you fix this problem too.

1. Verifying Database Connection Details

This might seem basic, but it's the foundation. We double-checked the database connection parameters in OpenProject's configuration file (database.yml). This file contains the settings OpenProject uses to connect to the PostgreSQL database. We made sure the host, port, database name, username, and password were all accurate and matched the information for the PostgreSQL 17 database. We were surprised by how often simple typos can cause big problems.

2. Checking PostgreSQL Authentication Configuration (pg_hba.conf)

The pg_hba.conf file is critical. It controls how clients (in our case, OpenProject) are allowed to connect to the PostgreSQL server. We opened the file (usually located in the PostgreSQL data directory) and made sure the OpenProject server's IP address or network range had the appropriate authentication method (e.g., md5 or trust) and permissions to connect to the OpenProject database. A common mistake is to have overly restrictive rules here, which can block legitimate connections. The authentication methods could be a problem too. Sometimes an upgrade can change the allowed methods. For instance, we ensured that the authentication method wasn't changed to something OpenProject didn't support, like scram-sha-256, without appropriate configuration in OpenProject.

3. Examining PostgreSQL User Roles and Permissions

We logged into the PostgreSQL database server (using psql or a similar tool) and checked the roles and permissions assigned to the OpenProject user. We made sure the user had the necessary privileges to access the OpenProject database, including CONNECT on the database and USAGE on the schema. The user also needs SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE permissions on the relevant tables. We checked to see if any permissions were missing or if the user role had been unintentionally dropped or modified during the upgrade.

4. Restarting OpenProject and PostgreSQL

After making any configuration changes, we restarted both OpenProject and the PostgreSQL server. This is a crucial step because it ensures that all the updated settings are applied. We did this carefully, monitoring the logs for any errors during the restart process. After a restart, try to login and make sure that the configuration has been applied correctly. We confirmed OpenProject was able to successfully connect to the database after the restart.

5. Reviewing OpenProject and PostgreSQL Logs

Logs are your best friends during troubleshooting. We scrutinized both the OpenProject application logs and the PostgreSQL server logs. The logs often provide detailed error messages that pinpoint the exact cause of the problem. We looked for connection errors, authentication failures, and any other clues that could explain the lockout. The PostgreSQL logs (/var/log/postgresql/postgresql-17-main.log or similar, depending on your setup) are especially valuable for identifying database-related issues. We also reviewed OpenProject's logs (usually in the application's log directory) for any connection or authentication errors.

6. Resetting the OpenProject User Password (if necessary)

If all else fails, we considered resetting the OpenProject user's password in the PostgreSQL database. This can sometimes resolve authentication issues, especially if the password has been corrupted or changed during the upgrade. We used the psql tool to connect to the database as a superuser and reset the password for the OpenProject user. However, we made sure to update the password in OpenProject's configuration file (database.yml) to match the new password.

7. Reverting to a Backup (as a last resort)

If all else fails, this is the best option. If all the above steps failed and we were still unable to resolve the issue, we prepared to revert to a database backup taken before the upgrade. This would mean some data loss, but it's better than having a completely unusable system. However, we luckily managed to resolve the issue before resorting to this.

The Solution: The Culprit Revealed

In our case, the primary problem was a configuration oversight related to how OpenProject handled PostgreSQL connections after the version upgrade. Specifically, the PostgreSQL user associated with OpenProject had its password reset during the upgrade process. This password change wasn't automatically propagated to OpenProject's configuration. It meant that OpenProject was still trying to connect to the database using the old, now-invalid, password.

Here's how we fixed it:

  1. Verified the Password: We connected to the PostgreSQL database using psql as the postgres user and verified the password for the OpenProject user. We made sure that the password was set correctly for the new version of PostgreSQL. We needed to log in using the old password to make sure, and then the new password.

  2. Updated the Configuration: We updated the database.yml file within the OpenProject installation directory to include the correct, new password for the PostgreSQL user. It was crucial to ensure the password in the OpenProject configuration matched the one in the PostgreSQL database. This is the most common fix.

  3. Restarted OpenProject: After updating the configuration file, we restarted the OpenProject service to ensure the new configuration was loaded.

Once these steps were completed, we were able to log in to OpenProject with the correct credentials. All the users had access again, and we were back in business.

Prevention: Best Practices for Future Upgrades

To avoid a similar situation in the future, here are some best practices for upgrading OpenProject with PostgreSQL:

  • Backup, Backup, Backup: Always create a complete backup of your database and OpenProject installation before any upgrade. This is the most important thing. If something goes wrong, you can always revert to a known good state.
  • Test in a Staging Environment: If possible, test the upgrade in a staging environment that mirrors your production environment. This allows you to identify and resolve any potential issues before they affect your users. This can take time, but it's worth it.
  • Read the Release Notes: Carefully review the release notes for both OpenProject and PostgreSQL. These notes often contain important information about breaking changes, compatibility issues, and upgrade instructions.
  • Update Dependencies: Make sure that all dependencies, such as Ruby on Rails and any gems, are compatible with the new versions of OpenProject and PostgreSQL. You might have to do some extra steps to make sure everything runs properly.
  • Monitor Logs: Continuously monitor the application and database logs during and after the upgrade for any errors or warnings. Take a proactive approach, and don't ignore any warnings.
  • Keep a Record: Document every step of the upgrade process, including any commands you run, configuration changes you make, and any issues you encounter. This documentation will be invaluable if you need to troubleshoot a problem or repeat the upgrade in the future.

Conclusion: Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

Upgrading OpenProject and PostgreSQL can be a complex process. The key takeaway is that careful planning, meticulous execution, and thorough testing are essential. Remember that even seemingly minor changes can have significant consequences. This whole experience taught us to be more thorough. By following these steps and best practices, you can minimize the risk of user lockouts and ensure a smooth upgrade process. I hope my experience helps you, and you avoid the headaches we went through! Good luck, and happy upgrading!