Unlocking OpenSearch Manual Snapshots: A Step-by-Step Guide for Master Users

Are you an OpenSearch master user struggling to set up manual snapshots with the master user from an “internal user database”? You’re not alone! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of OpenSearch snapshots and provide clear, direct instructions to overcome this hurdle.

Understanding OpenSearch Snapshots

Before we dive into the solution, let’s quickly understand the importance of snapshots in OpenSearch. Snapshots are point-in-time backups of your index data, which can be used for disaster recovery, data migration, or even testing new OpenSearch versions.

There are two types of snapshots in OpenSearch:

• Automated Snapshots: Scheduled snapshots that occur at regular intervals, configured using the snapshot.interval property.
• Manual Snapshots: Ad-hoc snapshots initiated manually by the user, which is the focus of this article.

The Challenge: Unable to Set Up Manual Snapshots with the Master User

When attempting to set up manual snapshots as a master user from an “internal user database”, you might encounter the following error:

{
  "error": {
    "root_cause": [
      {
        "type": "security_exception",
        "reason": "action [indices:admin/snapshot] is unauthorized for user [master_user]"
      }
    ],
    "type": "security_exception",
    "reason": "action [indices:admin/snapshot] is unauthorized for user [master_user]"
  },
  "status": 403
}

This error occurs because the master user lacks the necessary permissions to create manual snapshots.

Step-by-Step Solution

Follow these steps to successfully set up manual snapshots with the master user from an “internal user database”:

Step 1: Create a New Role with Snapshot Permissions

First, create a new role in OpenSearch with the necessary permissions to create manual snapshots. You can do this using the OpenSearch API or the OpenSearch Dashboards.

Using the OpenSearch API, send a POST request to /_opendistro/_security/api/roles with the following JSON payload:

{
  "role": {
    "name": "snapshot_creator",
    "description": "Role for creating manual snapshots",
    "cluster": ["snapshot"],
    "indices": [
      {
        "names": ["*"],
        "privileges": ["create_snapshot"]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Step 2: Map the New Role to the Master User

Next, map the new snapshot_creator role to the master user. This can be done using the OpenSearch API or the OpenSearch Dashboards.

Using the OpenSearch API, send a PATCH request to /_opendistro/_security/api/users/{master_username} with the following JSON payload:

{
  "user": {
    "roles": ["snapshot_creator"]
  }
}

Step 3: Create a Manual Snapshot

Now, as the master user, create a manual snapshot using the OpenSearch API or the OpenSearch Dashboards.

Using the OpenSearch API, send a PUT request to /_snapshot/{snapshot_name} with the following JSON payload:

{
  "type": "fs",
  "settings": {
    "location": "my_mount_point",
    "compress": true
  }
}

Replace {snapshot_name} with the desired name for your snapshot.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encountering issues during the setup process? Check out these common troubleshooting tips:

Error	Solution
Error 403: Unauthorized	Verify that the master user has been mapped to the snapshot_creator role. Check the role mapping and ensure the correct role is assigned.
Error 404: Snapshot Not Found	Confirm that the snapshot repository has been created correctly. Check the repository settings and ensure the correct location and settings are configured.
Error 500: Internal Server Error	Check the OpenSearch logs for any errors or exceptions. Verify that the master user has the necessary permissions to create snapshots.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should now be able to successfully set up manual snapshots with the master user from an “internal user database” in OpenSearch. Remember to carefully configure the role permissions and snapshot repository settings to ensure smooth snapshot creation.

With manual snapshots in place, you can rest assured that your OpenSearch data is backed up and ready for disaster recovery or testing new OpenSearch versions.

Additional Resources

For further reading on OpenSearch snapshots and security, check out the following resources:

• OpenSearch Snapshot Documentation
• OpenSearch Security Roles Documentation
• OpenSearch Permissions Documentation

Happy snapshotting!

Frequently Asked Question

Get ready to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of setting up OpenSearch manual snapshots with the master user from an “internal user database” – we’ve got you covered!