Mixed Authentication/Authorization Setup

Mixing both nkeys static config and decentralized JWT Authentication/Authorization is possible but needs some preparation in order to be able to do it.

The way this can be done is by first preparing a basic trusted operator setup that could be used in the future, and then base from that configuration to create the NKEYS static config using the same shared public nkeys for the accounts and then use clustering routes to bridge the two different auth setups during the transition.

For example, creating the following initial setup using NSC:

        nsc add account --name SYS
        nsc add user    --name sys
        nsc add account --name A
        nsc add user -a A --name test
        nsc add account --name B
        nsc add user -a B --name test

This will then generate something like the following:

 nsc list accounts

Output

╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                            Accounts                             │
├──────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Name │ Public Key                                               │
├──────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ A    │ ADFB2JXYTXOJEL6LNAXDREUGRX35BOLZI3B4PFFAC7IRPR3OA4QNKBN2 │
│ B    │ ACWOMQA7PZTKJSBTR7BF6TBK3D776734PWHWDKO7HFMQOM5BIOYPSYZZ │
│ SYS  │ ABKOWIYVTHNEK5HELPWLAT2CF2CUPELIK4SZH2VCJHLFU22B5U2IIZUO │
╰──────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

 nsc list users -a A

╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                              Users                              │
├──────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Name │ Public Key                                               │
├──────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ test │ UAPOK2P7EN3UFBL7SBJPQK3M3JMLALYRYKX5XWSVMVYK63ZMBHTOHVJR │
╰──────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

We could use this configuration as the initial starting configuration for an nkeys config now, where all the NKEYS users public nkeys are explicitly listed (centralized auth model).

port = 4222
cluster {
  port = 6222
  # We will bridge two different servers with different auth models via routes
  # routes [ nats://127.0.0.1:6223 ]
}
system_account = ABKOWIYVTHNEK5HELPWLAT2CF2CUPELIK4SZH2VCJHLFU22B5U2IIZUO
accounts {
  # Account A
  ADFB2JXYTXOJEL6LNAXDREUGRX35BOLZI3B4PFFAC7IRPR3OA4QNKBN2 {
    nkey: ADFB2JXYTXOJEL6LNAXDREUGRX35BOLZI3B4PFFAC7IRPR3OA4QNKBN2
    users = [
      {nkey: "UAPOK2P7EN3UFBL7SBJPQK3M3JMLALYRYKX5XWSVMVYK63ZMBHTOHVJR" }
    ]
  }
  # Account B
  ACWOMQA7PZTKJSBTR7BF6TBK3D776734PWHWDKO7HFMQOM5BIOYPSYZZ {
  }
  # Account SYS
  ABKOWIYVTHNEK5HELPWLAT2CF2CUPELIK4SZH2VCJHLFU22B5U2IIZUO {
  }
}

By using nsc it is possible to create a mem based resolver for the trusted operator setup:

nsc generate config --mem-resolver --sys-account SYS

An example configuration from the second node with the trusted operator setup could then be:

port = 4223
cluster {
  port = 6223
  routes [ nats://127.0.0.1:6222 ]
}
# debug = true
# trace = true
# Operator
operator = eyJ0eXAiOiJqd3QiLCJhbGciOiJlZDI1NTE5In0.eyJqdGkiOiJQNDJBSkFTVVA0TUdGRU1EQzVCRVVGUkM1MlQ1M05OTzRIWkhRNEdETVk0S0RZTFVRV0JBIiwiaWF0IjoxNTc0Mzc1OTE2LCJpc3MiOiJPQ09KSk5aSUNINkNHUU5LM1NRMzVXTFpXWkpDUkRBTFJIWjZPVzQ0RFpZVVdNVVYzV1BSSEZSRCIsIm5hbWUiOiJLTyIsInN1YiI6Ik9DT0pKTlpJQ0g2Q0dRTkszU1EzNVdMWldaSkNSREFMUkhaNk9XNDREWllVV01VVjNXUFJIRlJEIiwidHlwZSI6Im9wZXJhdG9yIiwibmF0cyI6e319.pppa9-xhWXJLSCCtqj_dqlvXKR7WlVCh0cqoZ6lr8zg3WlWM8U0bNf6FHw_67-wRS7jj0n4PuA0P0MAJdE3pDA
system_account = ABKOWIYVTHNEK5HELPWLAT2CF2CUPELIK4SZH2VCJHLFU22B5U2IIZUO
resolver = MEMORY
resolver_preload = {
  # Account "A"
  ADFB2JXYTXOJEL6LNAXDREUGRX35BOLZI3B4PFFAC7IRPR3OA4QNKBN2: eyJ0eXAiOiJqd3QiLCJhbGciOiJlZDI1NTE5In0.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.zZBetgDN6nCFDVpwzF_124BPkc8amGPDnrOmiKUa12xski5zskUI0Y0OeIa1vTo0bkHIKTgM2QDYpmXUQOHnAQ
  # Account "B"
  ACWOMQA7PZTKJSBTR7BF6TBK3D776734PWHWDKO7HFMQOM5BIOYPSYZZ: eyJ0eXAiOiJqd3QiLCJhbGciOiJlZDI1NTE5In0.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.AnzziBwt5Tnphc2prONUUOpMpkkAlJHvCPaag0GUtTYPCHKDphcJrwtAHi4v5NOI6npjoes0F0MlrfnHqidDAg
  # Account "SYS"
  ABKOWIYVTHNEK5HELPWLAT2CF2CUPELIK4SZH2VCJHLFU22B5U2IIZUO: eyJ0eXAiOiJqd3QiLCJhbGciOiJlZDI1NTE5In0.eyJqdGkiOiI1WVUyWkc1UkRTSU1TN1pGVE1MU0NZQUtLVkVFWUpPUlc0TDJPTlY3N1g1TlJZWkFGSkRRIiwiaWF0IjoxNTc0Mzc1OTE2LCJpc3MiOiJPQ09KSk5aSUNINkNHUU5LM1NRMzVXTFpXWkpDUkRBTFJIWjZPVzQ0RFpZVVdNVVYzV1BSSEZSRCIsIm5hbWUiOiJTWVMiLCJzdWIiOiJBQktPV0lZVlRITkVLNUhFTFBXTEFUMkNGMkNVUEVMSUs0U1pIMlZDSkhMRlUyMkI1VTJJSVpVTyIsInR5cGUiOiJhY2NvdW50IiwibmF0cyI6eyJsaW1pdHMiOnsic3VicyI6LTEsImNvbm4iOi0xLCJsZWFmIjotMSwiaW1wb3J0cyI6LTEsImV4cG9ydHMiOi0xLCJkYXRhIjotMSwicGF5bG9hZCI6LTEsIndpbGRjYXJkcyI6dHJ1ZX19fQ.5FrO4sZbWuFgRLuy7c1eQLUq_BQ4PNhIAN5A-sRLkYWmvlc4c_Y4VfTbgl5zhNzCxfvj9SxT7ySgphup2BiRAA
}

Even though they have different authorization mechanisms, these two servers are able to route account messages because they share the same NKEY.

We have created at least one user, in this case with creds:

-----BEGIN NATS USER JWT-----
eyJ0eXAiOiJqd3QiLCJhbGciOiJlZDI1NTE5In0.eyJqdGkiOiJNRkM3V1E1N0hKUE9aWUVOTEhVRTZTWFVQTDVKTURWSkxIQzJRTkpYNUVJS0RGR1U1REhRIiwiaWF0IjoxNTc0Mzc1OTE2LCJpc3MiOiJBREZCMkpYWVRYT0pFTDZMTkFYRFJFVUdSWDM1Qk9MWkkzQjRQRkZBQzdJUlBSM09BNFFOS0JOMiIsIm5hbWUiOiJ0ZXN0Iiwic3ViIjoiVUFQT0syUDdFTjNVRkJMN1NCSlBRSzNNM0pNTEFMWVJZS1g1WFdTVk1WWUs2M1pNQkhUT0hWSlIiLCJ0eXBlIjoidXNlciIsIm5hdHMiOnsicHViIjp7ImFsbG93IjpbIl9JTkJPWC5cdTAwM2UiLCJfUl8iLCJfUl8uXHUwMDNlIiwidGVzdCIsInRlc3QuXHUwMDNlIl19LCJzdWIiOnsiYWxsb3ciOlsiX0lOQk9YLlx1MDAzZSIsIl9SXyIsIl9SXy5cdTAwM2UiLCJsYXRlbmN5Lm9uLnRlc3QiLCJ0ZXN0IiwidGVzdC5cdTAwM2UiXX19fQ.MSU2aUIBK1iUsg7h52lLrfEfTwVMF_wB3HDq75ECskxSyyDDMtk9_3957UtQF-3yoGCIhKOkWjzX8C-WXnLADw
------END NATS USER JWT------
************************* IMPORTANT *************************
NKEY Seed printed below can be used to sign and prove identity.
NKEYs are sensitive and should be treated as secrets.
-----BEGIN USER NKEY SEED-----
SUANVBWRHHFMGHNIT6UJHPN2TGVBVIILE7VPVNEQ7DGCJ26ZD2V3KAHT4M
------END USER NKEY SEED------
*************************************************************

And this same user is able to connect to either one of the servers (bound to 4222 and 4223 respectively):

Subscriber Service:

package main
import (
    "log"
    "github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
)
func main() {
    opts := make([]nats.Option, 0)
    // Extract public nkey from seed
    //
    // Public:  UAPOK2P7EN3UFBL7SBJPQK3M3JMLALYRYKX5XWSVMVYK63ZMBHTOHVJR
    // Private: SUANVBWRHHFMGHNIT6UJHPN2TGVBVIILE7VPVNEQ7DGCJ26ZD2V3KAHT4M
    // 
    nkey, err := nats.NkeyOptionFromSeed("path/to/seed.nkey")
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
    opts = append(opts, nkey)
    nc, err := nats.Connect("127.0.0.1:4222", opts...)
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
    nc.Subscribe("test", func(m *nats.Msg){
        log.Printf("[Received] %q, replying... \n", string(m.Data))
        m.Respond([]byte("pong from nkeys based server"))
    })
    select {}
}

Requestor:

package main
import (
    "log"
    "time"
    "github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
)
func main() {
    nc, err := nats.Connect("127.0.0.1:4223", nats.UserCredentials("path/to/user.creds"))
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
    for range time.NewTicker(1 * time.Second).C {
        resp, err := nc.Request("test", []byte("test"), 1*time.Second)
        if err != nil {
            log.Println("[Error]", err)
            continue
        }
        log.Println("[Received]", string(resp.Data))
    }
}