📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Clients receive authentication failures and application database access stops.
Environment & Reproduction
Appears after host-based auth rules are reordered or tightened.
Root Cause Analysis
Rule mismatch in pg_hba.conf blocks expected user, host, or database access.
Quick Triage
Identify first matching pg_hba rule and verify connection parameters.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Review effective auth rules and corresponding PostgreSQL log entries.
Solution – Primary Fix
Correct pg_hba rules, reload config, and validate role authentication paths.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Apply temporary scoped trust on maintenance networks during recovery.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Required clients connect successfully with intended auth methods.
Rollback Plan
Revert pg_hba changes if new rules overblock production traffic.
Prevention & Hardening
Use tested auth templates and peer review for all pg_hba updates.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
Related to DNS reverse lookup issues and TLS mode mismatches.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for debian-11.
View all debian-11 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
PostgreSQL authentication and pg_hba management guidance.
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