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Chapter 2. Restoring the PostgreSQL database for Red Hat Edge Manager on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Use this topic after you have a backup of the flightctl database and need to recover Red Hat Edge Manager on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. A typical flightctl-services deployment runs application containers as systemd-managed Podman quadlets. During restore you must keep the PostgreSQL and KV store services running while application services are stopped: the primary procedure restores the database, runs flightctl-restore, then starts application services again. An alternative path skips flightctl-restore but still stops only application services while the database and KV remain up.

2.1. Prerequisites
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The following items cover access, tooling, backups, and release compatibility for the restore procedures in this topic on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux host where Red Hat Edge Manager runs as systemd-managed Podman quadlets, as described in Restore using quadlets and flightctl-restore. If you use database-only restore without flightctl-restore instead, the mandatory requirements still apply; optional tools listed later are needed only when you run the steps that use them (for example, temporary port publishing for flightctl-restore).

  • Host access: Root privileges or sudo on the host where the quadlets run, with permission to stop and start systemd units, run systemctl daemon-reload, create unit drop-in files under .d directories, and run Podman commands (including podman secret and podman exec).
  • Core tools: systemctl and podman installed and usable by your restore account.
  • Flight Control CLI tools: flightctl and flightctl-restore available on the host (or on a jump host if your runbook runs commands remotely). Before you restore, confirm that flightctl-restore matches the Red Hat Edge Manager server version (see the first step in Restore using quadlets and flightctl-restore).
  • Backup artifacts: A tested backup of the flightctl PostgreSQL database, in a form your team can replay (logical dump, physical backup, or other agreed method). Include matching configuration backups from /etc/flightctl/ when your recovery plan requires them.
  • Compatible versions: The Red Hat Edge Manager / flightctl-services release on the host should be compatible with the data in the backup (typically the same major release as when the backup was created).

Optional tools for verification steps in this topic (install only what you use):

  • jq — parse output from podman secret inspect when retrieving passwords.
  • pg_isready — check PostgreSQL readiness on localhost after temporary port publishing.
  • redis-cli (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9) or valkey-cli (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10) — check KV store connectivity on localhost; use the client that matches your host’s major Red Hat Enterprise Linux version and container image.
  • ss or netstat — confirm that ports 5432 and 6379 listen during the restore window.
Note

If Red Hat Edge Manager runs on Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform or another Kubernetes cluster rather than on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux quadlet host, prerequisites differ (for example, kubectl access and cluster networking). See Restoring the PostgreSQL database for Red Hat Edge Manager on Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform.

Important

Perform full restores during a maintenance window. Restoring data requires stopping application services and can interrupt device management until the procedure completes.

2.2. Restore using quadlets and flightctl-restore
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Typical RPM installations run Red Hat Edge Manager application components as separate systemd units backed by Podman quadlets, while the PostgreSQL and KV store containers keep running until you intentionally restart them. This sequence matches that layout: stop application services only, restore the flightctl database, supply credentials, expose ports locally for flightctl-restore, run the restore binary, remove temporary port publishing, then start application services again.

  1. Verify that flightctl-restore matches the Red Hat Edge Manager server version: 

    flightctl version
flightctl-restore version
echo "Server version: $(flightctl version)"
echo "Restore version: $(flightctl-restore version)"
    Important

    The server and restore versions must match. Update the flightctl-restore binary before you continue if they differ.

  2. Stop the Red Hat Edge Manager application services so they do not write to the database during restore. Do not stop flightctl-db.service, flightctl-kv.service, or other database or KV units; they must keep running while you restore data and run flightctl-restore. 

    # Stop only application services (keep database and KV store running)
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-api.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-worker.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-periodic.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-alert-exporter.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-alertmanager-proxy.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-telemetry-gateway.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-pam-issuer.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-cli-artifacts.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-alertmanager.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-imagebuilder-api.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-imagebuilder-worker.service
sudo systemctl stop flightctl-ui.service
    Note

    If systemctl reports Unknown unit for a service, your host might not ship that component (for example, image builder or UI). Skip that line. Do not run systemctl stop flightctl.target here; that would stop the database and KV services as well.

  3. Confirm that the application units you stopped are inactive: 

    sudo systemctl status flightctl-api.service
systemctl is-active flightctl-api.service
  4. Restore the flightctl PostgreSQL database using the method that matches your backup (for example, pg_restore, psql with a SQL dump, or storage-level recovery). Ensure the database is consistent and reachable from the deployment before you run flightctl-restore.

  5. Retrieve the database application password from the Podman secret: 

    DB_APP_PASSWORD=$(sudo podman secret inspect flightctl-postgresql-user-password --showsecret | jq -r '.[0].SecretData')
echo "Database password retrieved successfully"

  6. Retrieve the KV store password from the Podman secret: 

    KV_PASSWORD=$(sudo podman secret inspect flightctl-kv-password --showsecret | jq -r '.[0].SecretData')
echo "KV store credentials retrieved successfully"

  7. Optional: verify database and KV connectivity from the host through the running containers:

    Database: verify readiness: 

    sudo podman exec flightctl-db pg_isready -U postgres

    To connect to the database for additional verification (optional): 

    sudo podman exec -it flightctl-db psql -U flightctl_app -d flightctl

    KV store: on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 you can use redis-cli; on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 use valkey-cli inside the container, for example: 

    sudo podman exec flightctl-kv redis-cli ping

  8. Publish the database and KV ports on localhost so flightctl-restore can reach them. The database and KV containers use a private network by default; use temporary systemd drop-in files to add port publishing, then reload and restart only those services: 

    DB_CONTAINER_FILE=$(systemctl show flightctl-db.service -p SourcePath --value)
KV_CONTAINER_FILE=$(systemctl show flightctl-kv.service -p SourcePath --value)
DB_DROPIN_DIR="${DB_CONTAINER_FILE}.d"
KV_DROPIN_DIR="${KV_CONTAINER_FILE}.d"
sudo mkdir -p "$DB_DROPIN_DIR" "$KV_DROPIN_DIR"

sudo tee "$DB_DROPIN_DIR/10-publish-port.conf" > /dev/null <<'EOF'
[Container]
PublishPort=5432:5432
EOF

sudo tee "$KV_DROPIN_DIR/10-publish-port.conf" > /dev/null <<'EOF'
[Container]
PublishPort=6379:6379
EOF

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart flightctl-db.service flightctl-kv.service

    Verify listening ports and basic connectivity (adjust the KV client for your Red Hat Enterprise Linux major version): 

    ss -tlnp | grep -E ':5432|:6379' || true
pg_isready -h localhost -p 5432
REDISCLI_AUTH="$KV_PASSWORD" redis-cli -h localhost -p 6379 ping

    On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, use VALKEYCLI_AUTH with valkey-cli instead of REDISCLI_AUTH with redis-cli if that matches your environment.

  9. Run flightctl-restore with the database and KV passwords (run from the directory that contains the binary if you do not use a full path): 

    DB_PASSWORD="$DB_APP_PASSWORD" KV_PASSWORD="$KV_PASSWORD" ./bin/flightctl-restore

    Watch the output for errors or successful completion.

  10. Remove the temporary port publishing drop-ins and restart the database and KV services: 

    DB_CONTAINER_FILE=$(systemctl show flightctl-db.service -p SourcePath --value)
KV_CONTAINER_FILE=$(systemctl show flightctl-kv.service -p SourcePath --value)
DB_DROPIN_DIR="${DB_CONTAINER_FILE}.d"
KV_DROPIN_DIR="${KV_CONTAINER_FILE}.d"
sudo rm -f "$DB_DROPIN_DIR/10-publish-port.conf" "$KV_DROPIN_DIR/10-publish-port.conf"
sudo rmdir "$DB_DROPIN_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
sudo rmdir "$KV_DROPIN_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart flightctl-db.service flightctl-kv.service

  1. Start the application services again (same set you stopped; omit units your host does not use): 

    sudo systemctl start flightctl-api.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-worker.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-periodic.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-alert-exporter.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-alertmanager-proxy.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-telemetry-gateway.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-pam-issuer.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-cli-artifacts.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-alertmanager.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-imagebuilder-api.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-imagebuilder-worker.service
sudo systemctl start flightctl-ui.service

    Verify with sudo systemctl status on each unit and sudo podman ps --filter "name=flightctl-".

  2. Confirm that the API responds and that inventory looks correct in the Red Hat Edge Manager web console or with flightctl CLI commands.

2.3. Alternative: Database-only restore without flightctl-restore
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If your operations team restores the PostgreSQL data without running flightctl-restore (for example, a DBA-led replay into the live database), use the same rule as the main procedure: stop only application services so the database and KV store keep running. Do not use systemctl stop flightctl.target, which stops flightctl-db, flightctl-kv, and everything else.

  1. Stop the application services only (same list as Restore using quadlets and flightctl-restore, step 2). Skip units that do not exist on your host.

  2. Restore the flightctl database using the procedure that matches your backup while PostgreSQL remains available:

    • Logical backups (dump files): Use pg_restore, psql, or equivalent clients per your DBA standards.

    • Storage or snapshot restores: Restore the data directory or volume following your infrastructure playbook.

      Ensure database name, roles, and grants match what Red Hat Edge Manager expects.

  3. Verify that PostgreSQL accepts connections and that the flightctl database is present (for example, pg_isready or a short test query).
  4. Start the application services again with the same systemctl start sequence as in the Start the application services again step of Restore using quadlets and flightctl-restore. Do not rely on systemctl start flightctl.target unless your runbook confirms it does not disrupt the database or KV units you left running.
  5. Confirm health (for example, sudo systemctl status flightctl-api.service) and validate data in the web console or with flightctl CLI commands.

2.4. After you restore
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When the restore commands finish and application services are healthy again, validate the control plane and plan for device reconciliation. Restoring the database changes what the service knows about devices; edge devices must reconnect and compare their live state to the restored specifications.

2.4.1. Operational follow-up
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  • Re-run checks from Testing backups in the backup topic if you need a structured validation checklist.
  • Record commands, secret handling, and timing in your runbooks so the next restore repeats cleanly.

2.4.2. Post-restore device status changes
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After a successful restore, devices move through automatic status transitions while they reconnect and reconcile with the restored control plane data.

AwaitingReconnect
Devices are always placed in AwaitingReconnect first. The service waits for each device to report its current state again. Spec reconciliation for those devices remains paused until they reconnect.
Enrollment requests and post-restore approval

Devices approved after the restored backup was taken do not exist after the restore and must be approved again. After restore:

  • Devices created from a restored enrollment request are placed in AwaitingReconnect and follow the normal AwaitingReconnect behavior.
  • Devices without an enrollment request before backup, with a non-zero deployed specification version, are placed in AwaitingReconnect and follow the normal AwaitingReconnect behavior.
  • Devices without an enrollment request before backup, with a zero specification version, move to normal status.
ConflictPaused
After a device reconnects and reports its current state, the service compares the specification stored in the restored backup with the device-reported version. If the restored backup specification is older (for example, the device had moved forward while backups lagged), the device can enter ConflictPaused. Rendering of new specifications stops for that device until an operator resolves the mismatch. Human review is required before you force configuration forward.
Normal operation
When the restored specification and the device-reported state are compatible, the device returns to normal operational statuses (for example, online or updating) and usual reconciliation resumes.

2.4.2.1. Monitor device status
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Use the flightctl CLI to see which devices need attention: 

flightctl get devices
flightctl get devices --field-selector=status.summary.status=AwaitingReconnect
flightctl get devices --field-selector=status.summary.status=ConflictPaused

2.4.2.2. Resolve ConflictPaused devices
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  1. Review the specification source: if the device belongs to a fleet, inspect the fleet template and selector; if not, inspect the device spec directly. Review labels and ownership to confirm how the restored specification applies to the device.

  2. When you are confident the restored specification is what you want, resume the device or a group of devices. Replace example-device with your device resource name and adjust selectors to match your environment: 

    flightctl resume device example-device
flightctl resume device --selector="environment=production"

    Use additional flightctl resume device options your deployment supports (for example, field selectors) if you need to resume many devices in bulk.

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