Stricter Permission Issues

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 9 views

Introduction

NetBox, a popular network management tool, currently uses the local file system for saving and running scripts. However, this approach has limitations, especially in environments where the local file system is not available or directly accessible. To address this issue, we propose using Django-storages, which allows uploading and running scripts from S3 or other remote storages. In this article, we will discuss the proposed functionality, use cases, and the extent of the changes required to implement this feature.

Proposed Functionality

NetBox currently exposes two configuration parameters for configuring file storage:

STORAGE_BACKEND - Sets the storage backend (e.g., django-storages)
STORAGE_CONFIG - A dictionary of backend-specific configuration parameters

We can replace these by instead exposing Django's STORAGES setting directly. This will provide more flexibility in configuring file storage and allow scripts to be run from remote storages.

Use Case

There are several use cases where the local file system is not available or directly accessible on the instance of NetBox:

Ephemeral Storage: In some Docker configurations and cloud environments, the local file system is ephemeral, meaning that scripts are not directly copied to each node. This can lead to problems with the copying process not being completed by the time the script is run.
Read-Only Lockdown: In some Docker containers, the local file system is read-only, which can prevent scripts from being run.
Stricter Permission Issues: In some environments, the local file system has stricter permission issues, which can prevent scripts from being run.

Using Django-storages can fix these issues and allow scripts to be run from remote storages.

Note: Django's native STORAGE_BACKEND setting was removed in v5.1 and superseded by STORAGES. There is no longer a need to handle the backend selection and configuration via separate configuration parameters.

Extent of Changes

The extent of these changes would be:

Allow settings STORAGES directly in configuration.py: Instead of using STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG, we will allow settings STORAGES directly in configuration.py.
Deprecate STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG: We will deprecate STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG settings and replace them with STORAGES.
Switch the script file upload code to use Django-storages: We will switch the script file upload code to use Django-storages.
Allow the script running code to use Django-storages: We will allow the script running code to use Django-storages. Note that inspect only directly supports direct file system access, so some changes will need to be made to support it using Django-storages.

Database Changes

N/A

External Dependencies

Django-storages

Implementation

To implement this feature, we will follow these steps:

Allow settings STORAGES directly in configuration.py: We will add a new setting STORAGES to configuration.py and allow it to be set directly.
Deprecate STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG: We will deprecate STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG settings and replace them with STORAGES.
Switch the script file upload code to use Django-storages: We will switch the script file upload code to use Django-storages.
Allow the script running code to use Django-storages: We will allow the script running code to use Django-storages. Note that inspect only directly supports direct file system access, so some changes will need to be made to support it using Django-storages.

Conclusion

Q: What is Django-storages and how does it relate to NetBox?

A: Django-storages is a Django app that allows you to use various storage backends, such as Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and more, to store and serve files. In the context of NetBox, we can use Django-storages to store and run scripts from remote storages, rather than relying on the local file system.

Q: Why do we need to replace STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG with STORAGES?

A: The STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG settings are deprecated in Django 5.1 and later, and have been replaced by the STORAGES setting. By using STORAGES directly, we can take advantage of the new features and flexibility provided by Django's storage system.

Q: What are the benefits of using Django-storages for scripts in NetBox?

A: Using Django-storages for scripts in NetBox provides several benefits, including:

Flexibility: With Django-storages, you can store and run scripts from remote storages, such as Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage.
Scalability: By using remote storages, you can scale your script storage and execution to meet the needs of your growing NetBox installation.
Reliability: Remote storages provide a more reliable and fault-tolerant way to store and run scripts, reducing the risk of data loss or corruption.

Q: How do I configure Django-storages for scripts in NetBox?

A: To configure Django-storages for scripts in NetBox, you will need to:

Install Django-storages: Install the django-storages app in your NetBox installation.
Configure STORAGES: Configure the STORAGES setting in your NetBox configuration to use a remote storage backend, such as Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage.
Switch to Django-storages: Switch your script file upload and execution code to use Django-storages.

Q: What are the potential issues with using Django-storages for scripts in NetBox?

A: Some potential issues with using Django-storages for scripts in NetBox include:

Security: When using remote storages, you may need to consider security implications, such as data encryption and access control.
Performance: Remote storages may introduce performance overhead, such as latency and bandwidth limitations.
Compatibility: You may need to ensure that your script code is compatible with the remote storage backend you choose.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with Django-storages for scripts in NetBox?

A: To troubleshoot issues with Django-storages for scripts in NetBox, you can:

Check the logs: Check the NetBox logs for errors or warnings related to Django-storages.
Verify configuration: Verify that your STORAGES configuration is correct and complete.
Test with a small script: Test with a small script to ensure that Django-storages is working correctly.

Q: Can I use Django-storages with other NetBox features?

A: Yes, you can use Django-storages with other NetBox features, such as:

Script execution: Use Django-storages to store and run scripts in NetBox.
File uploads: Use Django-storages to store and serve files in NetBox.
Data storage: Use Django-storages to store and serve data in NetBox.

Conclusion

Using Django-storages for scripts and replacing STORAGE_BACKEND and STORAGE_CONFIG configuration parameters with Django's STORAGES provides a flexible and scalable way to store and run scripts in NetBox. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can take advantage of the benefits of Django-storages and improve the reliability and scalability of your NetBox installation.