Django DB connection error

[Jmcclaskey]

Current Behavior

We are encountering a critical django.db.utils.OperationalError: connection failed: connection to server at "<Database_IP>", port 5432 failed: could not generate nonce immediately after attempting to update our running container.

We are currently running v4.0.2-2.9.1 successfully. Our update process involves a standard docker compose down, changing the version tag, and then docker compose up. We are not building custom containers and are only pulling images from Docker Hub.

---

Environment Details

Component Containers	Version
Netbox	v4.0.2-2.9.1
PostgreSQL Database	postgresql-ironbank:17
Redis	redis7-ironbank:7.0.10

Details

• Working Version: v4.0.2-2.9.1
• Failing Versions Tested:
  • v4.4.1-3.4.0
  • v4.4.0-3.4.0
  • v4.1.0-3.0.1
• Error Message:
  django.db.utils.OperationalError: connection failed: connection to server at "<Database_IP>", port 5432 failed: could not generate nonce.
  (Note: The <Database_IP> placeholder reflects the actual IP in our logs.)

Request
We need assistance troubleshooting the cause of the could not generate nonce error, which is preventing the newer application versions from connecting to our PostgreSQL database (v17). Given the specific IronBank images we are using, please advise on potential version compatibility issues or required configuration changes that might be necessary for the new application versions to successfully connect to our existing database and Redis setup. This could also just be a django error but I dont want to mess with a working container unless absolutely necessary, and want to know if you have seen anything like this.

Expected Behavior

I expect that after changing the version and docker compose up we are getting a working netbox that connects to the DB.

Docker Compose Version

v4.1.0-3.0.1

Docker Version

Client: Docker Engine - Community
 Version:           28.3.3
 API version:       1.51
 Go version:        go1.24.5
 Git commit:        980b856
 Built:             Fri Jul 25 11:36:05 2025
 OS/Arch:           linux/amd64
 Context:           default

Server: Docker Engine - Community
 Engine:
  Version:          28.3.3
  API version:      1.51 (minimum version 1.24)
  Go version:       go1.24.5
  Git commit:       bea959c
  Built:            Fri Jul 25 11:33:27 2025
  OS/Arch:          linux/amd64
  Experimental:     false
 containerd:
  Version:          1.7.27
  GitCommit:        05044ec0a9a75232cad458027ca83437aae3f4da
 runc:
  Version:          1.2.5
  GitCommit:        v1.2.5-0-g59923ef
 docker-init:
  Version:          0.19.0
  GitCommit:        de40ad0

The git Revision

N/A

The git Status

N/A

Startup Command

docker compose -f u_netbox_docker-compose.yaml --env-file netbox.env up -d

NetBox Logs

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Traceback (most recent call last):                                                                                                                                                                  
  File "/opt/netbox/netbox/./manage.py", line 10, in <module>                                                                                                                                       
    execute_from_command_line(sys.argv)                                                                                                                                                             
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 442, in execute_from_command_line                                                                   
    utility.execute()                                                                                                                                                                               
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/__init__.py", line 436, in execute                                                                                     
    self.fetch_command(subcommand).run_from_argv(self.argv)                                                                                                                                         
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 416, in run_from_argv                                                                                   
    self.execute(*args, **cmd_options)                                                                                                                                                              
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/base.py", line 460, in execute                                                                                        
    output = self.handle(*args, **options)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/showmigrations.py", line 67, in handle                                                                       
    return self.show_list(connection, options["app_label"])
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/showmigrations.py", line 86, in show_list                                                                    
    loader = MigrationLoader(connection, ignore_no_migrations=True)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/migrations/loader.py", line 58, in __init__                                                                                        
    self.build_graph()
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/migrations/loader.py", line 235, in build_graph                                                                                    
    self.applied_migrations = recorder.applied_migrations()
                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/migrations/recorder.py", line 89, in applied_migrations                                                                            
    if self.has_table():
       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/migrations/recorder.py", line 63, in has_table                                                                                     
    with self.connection.cursor() as cursor:
         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/utils/asyncio.py", line 26, in inner
    return func(*args, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/backends/base/base.py", line 320, in cursor                                                                                        
    return self._cursor()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/backends/base/base.py", line 296, in _cursor                                                                                       
    self.ensure_connection()
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/utils/asyncio.py", line 26, in inner
    return func(*args, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/backends/base/base.py", line 278, in ensure_connection                                                                             
    with self.wrap_database_errors:
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/utils.py", line 91, in __exit__
    raise dj_exc_value.with_traceback(traceback) from exc_value
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/backends/base/base.py", line 279, in ensure_connection                                                                             
    self.connect()
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/utils/asyncio.py", line 26, in inner
    return func(*args, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/backends/base/base.py", line 256, in connect                                                                                       
    self.connection = self.get_new_connection(conn_params)
                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/utils/asyncio.py", line 26, in inner
    return func(*args, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/django/db/backends/postgresql/base.py", line 332, in get_new_connection                                                                      
    connection = self.Database.connect(**conn_params)
                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/opt/netbox/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/psycopg/connection.py", line 118, in connect
    raise last_ex.with_traceback(None)
django.db.utils.OperationalError: connection failed: connection to server at "<Database_IP>", port 5432 failed: could not generate nonce                                                              
⏳ Waiting on DB... (27s / 30s)
❌ Waited 30s or more for the DB to become ready.

Content of docker-compose.override.yml

networks:
  proxy-network:
    external: false
    name: ${NETWORK}
  db-network:
    external: false
    name: '${DB_NETWORK}'

services:
  netbox: &netbox
    image: ${NETBOX_IMAGE}
    networks:
      - db-network
      - proxy-network
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis
      - redis-cache
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    healthcheck:
      start_period: 60s
      timeout: 3s
      interval: 15s
      retries: 10
      test: "curl -f http://localhost:8080/api/ || exit 1"
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${NFS}/${HOSTNAME}/reports:/etc/netbox/reports:z,ro
      - /mnt/${NFS}/${HOSTNAME}/scripts:/etc/netbox/scripts:z,ro
      - /mnt/${NFS}/${HOSTNAME}/netbox-media-files:/opt/netbox/netbox/media:z

  netbox-worker:
    <<: *netbox
    networks:
      - db-network
      - proxy-network
    depends_on:
      netbox:
        condition: service_healthy
    command:
      - /opt/netbox/venv/bin/python
      - /opt/netbox/netbox/manage.py
      - rqworker
    healthcheck:
      start_period: 60s
      timeout: 3s
      interval: 15s
      retries: 10
      test: "ps -aux | grep -v grep | grep -q rqworker || exit 1"

  # postgres
  postgres:
    image: ${PG_IMAGE}
    container_name: ${PG_NAME}
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    networks:
      - db-network
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${PG_HOSTNAME}/pgdata17:/var/lib/postgresql/data/:z
    ports:
      - '${DB_PORT}:${DB_PORT}'
    environment:
      PGDATA: '/var/lib/postgresql/data/pgdata'
    tty: true
    restart: always

  # redis
  redis:
    image: ${REDIS_IMAGE}
    container_name: ${REDIS_NAME}
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    networks:
      - proxy-network
    command:
      - sh
      - -c # this is to evaluate the $REDIS_PASSWORD from the env
      - redis-server --appendonly yes --requirepass $$REDIS_PASSWORD ## $$ because of docker-compose
    environment:
      - REDIS_PASSWORD=${REDIS_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${REDIS_HOSTNAME}/netbox-redis-data:/data

  redis-cache:
    image: ${REDIS_IMAGE}
    container_name: ${REDIS_CACHE_HOST}
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    networks:
      - proxy-network
    command:
      - sh
      - -c # this is to evaluate the $REDIS_PASSWORD from the env
      - redis-server --requirepass $$REDIS_PASSWORD ## $$ because of docker-compose
    environment:
      - REDIS_PASSWORD=${REDIS_CACHE_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${REDIS_HOSTNAME}/netbox-redis-cache-data:/data

  nginx:
    networks:
      - proxy-network
    container_name: ${NGINX_NAME}
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${NFS}/nginx-${HOSTNAME}:/etc/nginx:z

  # postgres
  postgres:
    image: ${PG_IMAGE}
    container_name: ${PG_NAME}
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    networks:
      - db-network
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${PG_HOSTNAME}/pgdata17:/var/lib/postgresql/data/:z
    ports:
      - '${DB_PORT}:${DB_PORT}'
    environment:
      PGDATA: '/var/lib/postgresql/data/pgdata'
    tty: true
    restart: always

  # redis
  redis:
    image: ${REDIS_IMAGE}
    container_name: ${REDIS_NAME}
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    networks:
      - proxy-network
    command:
      - sh
      - -c # this is to evaluate the $REDIS_PASSWORD from the env
      - redis-server --appendonly yes --requirepass $$REDIS_PASSWORD ## $$ because of docker-compose
    environment:
      - REDIS_PASSWORD=${REDIS_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${REDIS_HOSTNAME}/netbox-redis-data:/data

  redis-cache:
    image: ${REDIS_IMAGE}
    container_name: ${REDIS_CACHE_HOST}
    env_file: /var/netbox/netbox.env
    networks:
      - proxy-network
    command:
      - sh
      - -c # this is to evaluate the $REDIS_PASSWORD from the env
      - redis-server --requirepass $$REDIS_PASSWORD ## $$ because of docker-compose
    environment:
      - REDIS_PASSWORD=${REDIS_CACHE_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${REDIS_HOSTNAME}/netbox-redis-cache-data:/data

  nginx:
    networks:
      - proxy-network
    container_name: ${NGINX_NAME}
    volumes:
      - /mnt/${NFS}/nginx-${HOSTNAME}:/etc/nginx:z
    image: ${NGINX_IMAGE}
    ports:
      - '${PORT}:${PORT}'
    tty: true
    restart: always
    depends_on:
      - netbox

[tobiasge]

You multiple services declared twice in your override file. Can this issue be reproduced with the default images? What are your database connection settings?

[Jmcclaskey]

We currently require two Redis services for NetBox to initialize correctly, having two services defined resolves the initial configuration errors. The images are the default public images pulled directly from Docker Hub and IronBank. Our current database connection settings DB_NAME=netbox and we leave the connection port to the default 5432.

We have confirmed that PostgreSQL is running and accessible on that port. We also want to note that no other services using our IronBank images are experiencing connection issues.