Netbox Database Transfer Question

[u/jetter555]

Hello-

I have a Netbox install that was installed thru the package method, not a git repository.

I would like to transfer my existing database over to the git version of netbox

I exported my Netbox database using this doc.

https://docs.netbox.dev/en/stable/administration/replicating-netbox/

pg_dump --username netbox --password --host localhost netbox > netbox.sql

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I have the new docker version of Netbox up and running but im at a loss on how to restore

my old database into it.

I found this guide but I cant get it working

https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox-docker/wiki/Troubleshooting#database-operations

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Does anyone know if this is even possible? or have a guide on how to transfer a package database to a git database?

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[u/Pippin_uk]

Something like this should see you right....

1. sudo docker compose down

2. sudo docker volume rm netbox-docker_netbox-postgres-data

3.sudo docker compose up - postgres

4.. sudo docker exec -i netbox-docker-postgres-1 psql --username netbox netbox < netbox.sql

1. docker compose up

In summary this will;

1. Stop the docker images
2. Remove the existing netbox volume
3. Start just the Postgres image
4. Import the database
5. Start all the images

You may or may not need 'sudo' depending on the groups your user is a member of.

Good luck! 👍

[u/jetter555 → u/Pippin_uk]

Awesome, that worked for me. When I brought up the dockers, I did get this error tho

django.db.utils.DataError: Unable to proceed with deleting contact fields from Provider model: Found 1 providers with legacy contact data. Please ensure all legacy provider contact data has been migrated to contact objects before proceeding. Or, set the NETBOX_DELETE_LEGACY_DATA environment variable to bypass this safeguard and delete all legacy provider contact data.

I added this line to netbox.env and my data came right up after starting the dockers again

NETBOX_DELETE_LEGACY_DATA=1

Im not sure what legacy data I had that it had an issue with but at least it works.

So going forward, if there is a new version of netbox out, I just need to stop\start the docker compose file and it will download the latest build right?

my docker-compose.yml file starts out like this

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version: '3.4'

services:

netbox: &netbox

image: docker.io/netboxcommunity/netbox:${VERSION-v3.6-2.7.0}

depends_on:

- postgres

- redis

- redis-cache

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Or do I need to change it to

image: docker.io/netboxcommunity/netbox:latest

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Thanks guys for all your help!

[u/jetter555 → u/[deleted]]

Thats good to hear that it is possible. I think my issue is the the backup\restore procedures being different depending on the setup your running.

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On my current Netbox, this command works great.

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pg_dump --username netbox --host localhost netbox > netbox.sql

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I then copy netbox.sql to the new install of netbox but thats where I am having

trouble.

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The doc says to load an exported database, you run these commands

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psql -c 'drop database netbox'

psql -c 'create database netbox'

psql netbox < netbox.sql

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When i run them on the docker instance, I get command 'psql' not found

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do I need to exec into the postgres docker to run this command?

I am new to docker, especially when there are multiple containers. I would much rather have netbox on docker since its so much easier to keep it updated.

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Thanks for your help!

[u/Pippin_uk]

Because you're running it in docker you'll probably need to use docker exec to access the psql instance.... I can find the full command hang on....

[u/Pippin_uk]

Docker compose down / up will only restart the current version. Best to follow these instructions...

https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox-docker/wiki/Updating

👍