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Chapter 9. Troubleshooting IdM server installation

Diagnose and resolve Identity Management (IdM) server installation failures to ensure successful deployment. Gather diagnostic information and apply solutions for common installation issues.

9.1. Reviewing IdM server installation error logs
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Review Identity Management (IdM) server installation log files to identify and troubleshoot deployment failures.

Find the debugging information in the following files:

  • /var/log/ipaserver-install.log
  • /var/log/httpd/error_log
  • /var/log/dirsrv/slapd-INSTANCE-NAME/access
  • /var/log/dirsrv/slapd-INSTANCE-NAME/errors

The last lines of the log files report success or failure, and the ERROR and DEBUG entries provide additional context.

To troubleshoot a failing IdM server installation, review the errors at the end of the log files and use this information to resolve any corresponding issues.

Prerequisites

  • You must have root privileges to display the contents of IdM log files.

Procedure

  1. Use the tail command to display the last lines of a log file. The following example displays the last 10 lines of /var/log/ipaserver-install.log. 

    [user@server ~]$ sudo tail -n 10 /var/log/ipaserver-install.log
[sudo] password for user:
value = gen.send(prev_value)
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipapython/install/common.py", line 65, in _install
for unused in self._installer(self.parent):
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipaserver/install/server/init.py", line 564, in main
master_install(self)
File "/usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipaserver/install/server/install.py", line 291, in decorated
raise ScriptError()

2020-05-27T22:59:41Z DEBUG The ipa-server-install command failed, exception: ScriptError:
2020-05-27T22:59:41Z ERROR The ipa-server-install command failed. See /var/log/ipaserver-install.log for more information
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  2. To review a log file interactively, open the end of the log file using the less utility and use the ↑ and ↓ arrow keys to navigate. The following example opens the /var/log/ipaserver-install.log file interactively. 

    [user@server ~]$ sudo less -N +G /var/log/ipaserver-install.log
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  3. Gather additional troubleshooting information by repeating this review process with the remaining log files. 

    [user@server ~]$ sudo less -N +G /var/log/httpd/error_log

[user@server ~]$ sudo less -N +G /var/log/dirsrv/slapd-INSTANCE-NAME/access

[user@server ~]$ sudo less -N +G /var/log/dirsrv/slapd-INSTANCE-NAME/errors
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Review debugging information for certificate authority (CA) installation failures on the first Identity Management CA server to diagnose and resolve deployment issues.

Expand
LocationDescription

/var/log/pki/pki-ca-spawn.$TIME_OF_INSTALLATION.log

High-level issues and Python traces for the pkispawn installation process

journalctl -u pki-tomcatd@pki-tomcat output

Errors from the pki-tomcatd@pki-tomcat service

/var/log/pki/pki-tomcat/ca/debug.$DATE.log

Large JAVA stacktraces of activity in the core of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) product

/var/log/pki/pki-tomcat/ca/signedAudit/ca_audit log file

Audit log of the PKI product

  • /var/log/pki/pki-tomcat/ca/system
  • /var/log/pki/pki-tomcat/ca/transactions
  • /var/log/pki/pki-tomcat/catalina.$DATE.log

Low-level debug data of certificate operations for service principals, hosts, and other entities that use certificates

Note

If a full IdM server installation fails while installing the optional CA component, no details about the CA are logged; a message is logged in the /var/log/ipaserver-install.log file indicating that the overall installation process failed. Review the log files listed above for details specific to the CA installation failure.

The only exception to this behavior is when you are installing the CA service and the root CA is an external CA. If there is an issue with the certificate from the external CA, errors are logged in /var/log/ipaserver-install.log.

Review Identity Management CA installation error log files on the first IdM CA server to identify and troubleshoot certificate authority deployment failures.

Prerequisites

  • You must have root privileges to display the contents of IdM log files.

Procedure

  1. To review a log file interactively, open the end of the log file using the less utility and use the kbd:[] arrow keys to navigate, while searching for ScriptError entries. The following example opens /var/log/pki/pki-ca-spawn.$TIME_OF_INSTALLATION.log. 

    [user@server ~]$ sudo less -N +G /var/log/pki/pki-ca-spawn.20200527185902.log
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  2. Gather additional troubleshooting information by repeating this review process with all the log files listed above.

9.4. Removing a partial IdM server installation
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Remove partial Identity Management (IdM) server configuration after a failed installation to enable successful server deployment.

Additional attempts to install the IdM server fail and the installation script reports that IdM is already configured: 

[root@server ~]# ipa-server-install

The log file for this installation can be found in /var/log/ipaserver-install.log
IPA server is already configured on this system.
If you want to reinstall the IdM server, please uninstall it first using 'ipa-server-install --uninstall'.
The ipa-server-install command failed. See /var/log/ipaserver-install.log for more information
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To resolve this issue, uninstall the partial IdM server configuration and retry the installation process.

Prerequisites

  • You must have root privileges.

Procedure

  1. Uninstall the IdM server software from the host you are trying to configure as an IdM server. 

    [root@server ~]# ipa-server-install --uninstall
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  2. If you continue to experience difficulty installing an IdM server because of repeated failed installations, reinstall the operating system.

    One of the requirements for installing an IdM server is a clean system without any customization. Failed installations may have compromised the integrity of the host by unexpectedly modifying system files.

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