[GH-ISSUE #1798] Don't create PrivateKey on install #3396

New Issue

saavagebueno · 2026-08-05T00:52:11-04:00

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:11 -04:00

Originally created by @euh2 on GitHub (Apr 4, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/1798

Problem

I struggled with a weird issue. I deployed several machines from one base image. In the base image I have Netbird preinstalled. From all machines only one would connect to the Netbird Network. When checking the machines, all of them would have the same /etc/netbird/config.json, i.e. the same PrivateKey.

Since Netbird is installed at Image build time, the keys are the same for all deployed instances. That does of course not work.

To Reproduce

See above

Expected behavior

Create the PrivateKey when first running netbird up.

Are you using NetBird Cloud?
No

NetBird version

0.27.0

Originally created by @euh2 on GitHub (Apr 4, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/1798 **Problem** I struggled with a weird issue. I deployed several machines from one base image. In the base image I have Netbird preinstalled. From all machines _only one_ would connect to the Netbird Network. When checking the machines, all of them would have the same `/etc/netbird/config.json`, i.e. the same **PrivateKey**. Since Netbird is installed at Image build time, the keys are the same for all deployed instances. That does of course not work. **To Reproduce** See above **Expected behavior** Create the **PrivateKey** when first running `netbird up`. **Are you using NetBird Cloud?** No **NetBird version** 0.27.0

saavagebueno added the feature-request label 2026-08-05 00:52:11 -04:00

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:11 -04:00

@sbrw commented on GitHub (Jan 21, 2025):

Is there a workaround for this?
What is used for creation of the private key? Machine ID, SSH key...?

@sbrw commented on GitHub (Jan 21, 2025): Is there a workaround for this? What is used for creation of the private key? Machine ID, SSH key...?

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:12 -04:00

@0xSeb commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025):

We face the exact same issue running multiple EC2 instances from our base AMI where we baked the install of netbird. Anything planned for this or a workaround ?

@0xSeb commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025): We face the exact same issue running multiple EC2 instances from our base AMI where we baked the install of netbird. Anything planned for this or a workaround ?

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:12 -04:00

@0xSeb commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025):

We just found a workaround in our base AMI

install netbird
rm /etc/netbird/config.json

When we start netbird with a setup key, this file gets generated with a new private key and all.

@0xSeb commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025): We just found a workaround in our base AMI - install netbird - rm /etc/netbird/config.json When we start netbird with a setup key, this file gets generated with a new private key and all.

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:12 -04:00

@nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025):

How did you guys end up with NetBird client started while building the images?

Generally, those should be cleared (like A LOT of other dynamic data) before dumping the system image for reuse.

What is used for creation of the private key? Machine ID, SSH key...?

It's a random key depending on nothing specific.

We just found a workaround in our base AMI
* install netbird

* rm /etc/netbird/config.json
When we start netbird with a setup key, this file gets generated with a new private key and all.

You have the right idea. This should be in a post-baking/wrapup step for any kind of AMI/base image before storing it anywhere for reuse.

It's probably not easy in the current codebase, but a feature that would generate the keys upon first connection attempt would make some sense in the future.

@nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025): How did you guys end up with NetBird client started while building the images? Generally, those should be cleared (like A LOT of other dynamic data) before dumping the system image for reuse. --- > What is used for creation of the private key? Machine ID, SSH key...? It's a random key depending on nothing specific. --- > We just found a workaround in our base AMI > > * install netbird > > * rm /etc/netbird/config.json > > > When we start netbird with a setup key, this file gets generated with a new private key and all. You have the right idea. This should be in a post-baking/wrapup step for any kind of AMI/base image before storing it anywhere for reuse. --- It's probably not easy in the current codebase, but a feature that would generate the keys upon first connection attempt would make some sense in the future.

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:12 -04:00

@everhardt commented on GitHub (Jun 11, 2026):

@nazarewk in recent Netbird client versions the workaround of removing /etc/netbird/config.json doesn't work anymore. In the base image in which Netbird is installed there is a /var/lib/netbird/ directory, but the only file in there (service.json) doesn't contain a private key:

{
    "log_level": "info",
    "daemon_addr": "unix:///var/run/netbird.sock",
    "log_files": [
        "/var/log/netbird/client.log"
    ]
}

still, every VM that uses the base image gets the same private key (and hostname). Do you maybe have a hint on how to resolve this?

@everhardt commented on GitHub (Jun 11, 2026): @nazarewk in recent Netbird client versions the workaround of removing `/etc/netbird/config.json` doesn't work anymore. In the base image in which Netbird is installed there is a `/var/lib/netbird/` directory, but the only file in there (service.json) doesn't contain a private key: ```json { "log_level": "info", "daemon_addr": "unix:///var/run/netbird.sock", "log_files": [ "/var/log/netbird/client.log" ] } ``` still, every VM that uses the base image gets the same private key (and hostname). Do you maybe have a hint on how to resolve this?

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:12 -04:00

@nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jun 11, 2026):

@nazarewk in recent Netbird client versions the workaround of removing /etc/netbird/config.json doesn't work anymore. In the base image in which Netbird is installed there is a /var/lib/netbird/ directory, but the only file in there (service.json) doesn't contain a private key:

{
"log_level": "info",
"daemon_addr": "unix:///var/run/netbird.sock",
"log_files": [
"/var/log/netbird/client.log"
]
}

still, every VM that uses the base image gets the same private key (and hostname). Do you maybe have a hint on how to resolve this?

I'm out of the loop since ~December, but that could be caused by introduction of profiles last yeae. Those use different config files at different locations. Would appreciate feedback once you get it working.

@nazarewk commented on GitHub (Jun 11, 2026): > [@nazarewk](https://github.com/nazarewk) in recent Netbird client versions the workaround of removing `/etc/netbird/config.json` doesn't work anymore. In the base image in which Netbird is installed there is a `/var/lib/netbird/` directory, but the only file in there (service.json) doesn't contain a private key: > > { > "log_level": "info", > "daemon_addr": "unix:///var/run/netbird.sock", > "log_files": [ > "/var/log/netbird/client.log" > ] > } > > still, every VM that uses the base image gets the same private key (and hostname). Do you maybe have a hint on how to resolve this? I'm out of the loop since ~December, but that could be caused by introduction of profiles last yeae. Those use different config files at different locations. Would appreciate feedback once you get it working.

saavagebueno commented

2026-08-05 00:52:12 -04:00

@everhardt commented on GitHub (Jun 17, 2026):

Removing /var/lib/netbird/active_profile.json and /var/lib/netbird/default.json when building the image seems to do the trick!

@everhardt commented on GitHub (Jun 17, 2026): Removing `/var/lib/netbird/active_profile.json` and `/var/lib/netbird/default.json` when building the image seems to do the trick!

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:10:36 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #6889

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:10:38 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #6898

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:10:42 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #6905

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:11:39 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #7122

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:11:41 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #7129

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:11:46 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #7145

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:12:09 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #7243

saavagebueno referenced this issue

2026-08-05 01:12:12 -04:00

[GH-ISSUE #3396] Hide the peers when the Default "Allow All" is off #7257

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separate_proxy_from_wgconfig

fix/wg_conn

wg_conn_fix

wg_bind_parallel_processing

fix-rollback-get-acls

proxy_cfg_cleanup

performance-improvement-rego

update-lock-log-level

feat-client-side-acl

refactor/move_grpcserver_logic_to_account_manager

feature/event-storage

feature/update-idp-redeeming-invite

feature/api-peer-info

return-groupminimum-setupkey

feature/interface-bind

documentation_enhancement

fix-peer-registration

ssh

users_cache

pass-client-caller

client_caller_type

revert-283-feat-fix-windows-installer

periodic-peer-updates

ebpf

braginini/wasm

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Reference: DYNR/netbird#3396