port 443 refused

[da_root]

Greetings,

I recently transferred my instance from a different cloud server to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) using VM Migration. Following the migration, when I attempt to establish a telnet connection from my local computer to port 443, it returns a "Connection refused" error. I have already verified that HTTP and HTTPS are allowed.

Currently, my instance is only accessible over port 80. Is there anything specific I should do to rectify this issue?

Thank you.

[ms4446 · Accepted solution]

No problem! Here are the detailed steps on how to find and enable Workload Identity on your GCE instance:

Locating and Enabling Workload Identity on your GCE Instance

1. Navigate to VM Instance Details:

   • Go to the Google Cloud Console (https://console.cloud.google.com/)
   • Select "Compute Engine" from the main menu on the left.
   • Click on "VM Instances" to load up your list of instances.
   • Click on the name of the VM you are working with. This will open the details page for that instance.

2. Locate the "Security" Section:

   • On the left-hand menu of the instance's details page, find the "Security" section.Click on it.

3. Enable Workload Identity:

   • Within the "Security" section, you should find the "Workload Identity" setting (it might be collapsed).
   • If the "Workload Identity" box is not checked, check the box next to it to enable Workload Identity.

If You Don't See the "Workload Identity" Option:

• Cluster Node: If you are working with a VM that is part of a Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) cluster, you'll need to manage Workload Identity via the GKE settings. Refer to the GKE Workload Identity documentation:https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/how-to/workload-identity
• Older VMs: If you have a very old VM, you might need to recreate the instance to enable Workload Identity. For older VMs this option might not be available as a setting.

Important Notes:

• Once you enable Workload Identity, your instance might need to be restarted for the changes to fully take effect.
• Make sure the service account associated with your VM has the appropriate permissions for the APIs it needs to access. This will depend on what you are trying to do with the instance.

Additional Troubleshooting (if needed): If you've followed these steps and you still experience problems with port 443 after ensuring Workload Identity is enabled, please provide the following information so I can assist you further:

• Service or Application: What service are you trying to run on port 443 (e.g., Apache, Nginx,a custom application)?
• Error Messages: Any specific error messages you are seeing either in logs or when trying to connect.
• Network Configuration: If you have any custom VPCs, firewalls, or unusual network setup please provide some details.

[da_root]

hello @ms4446 can you please help me on this?

[ms4446]

Hi @da_root ,

To troubleshoot and resolve the "Connection Refused" error on port 443 after migrating your VM instance to Google Cloud, follow these steps:

1. Verify Service Status:

   • Connect via SSH: SSH into the migrated VM instance to check if the service expected to be listening on port 443 is running.
   • Check for Running Processes: Use commands like netstat -tulpn, ps aux | grep <service_name>, or systemctl status <service_name> to verify if the process is active and listening on port 443.
   • Start If Not Running: If the service isn't running, start it using the appropriate command, e.g., systemctl start <service_name>.

2. Check Firewall Rules (both GCP and Internal):

   • GCP Firewall:
     • Navigate to the VPC Network section in your Google Cloud console.
     • Ensure a firewall rule exists allowing inbound traffic to your VM on TCP port 443, targeted to specific IP addresses if necessary.
     • Create or modify the rule to allow access if needed. Refer to GCP Firewall Documentation for more details.
   • Local VM Firewall:
     • If your VM has its own firewall (e.g., iptables, firewalld), ensure it allows connections on port 443.
     • Modify your local firewall settings to open port 443 as needed.

3. Service Configuration:

   • Binding Address: Ensure the service on your VM listens on the correct IP address, either 0.0.0.0 (all IP addresses) or the specific IP of the VM's network interface.
   • Check Config Files: Examine the service's configuration files to ensure the Listen directive is set for the desired IP address and port 443.

4. Network and Connectivity Issues:

   • Use Diagnostic Tools: Employ tools like ping, traceroute, or telnet <VM_IP> 443 from outside GCP to test basic connectivity to port 443.
   • Review Routes and Gateways: In complex network setups, ensure routing tables and default gateways are correctly configured for traffic to reach the VM on port 443.

5. Consider Other Factors:

   • SELinux: If running SELinux (on CentOS, RHEL, etc.), check if it's preventing the service from binding to the port. Adjust the configuration as needed.
   • Resource Limitations: Confirm the VM has sufficient CPU and memory resources.
   • Migration Issues: Compare the VM's settings in the previous environment with the current one to identify any discrepancies.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips:

• SSL/TLS Configuration: If using HTTPS, ensure SSL certificates are correctly installed and configured.
• Restart Services: After changes, restart the web server or VM to apply new settings.
• Test Internally First: Use telnet localhost 443 within the VM to check local service accessibility.
• Check Logs: Examine server and system logs for error messages.
• Google Cloud SSH Troubleshooting Tool: Utilize the troubleshooting tool in the console or via gcloud compute ssh for diagnostics. Google Cloud SSH Troubleshooting

[da_root]

all try check all step mentioned, here the reply to check the 443 port

telnet to 443 port only works over internal only

[ms4446]

It appears that you are able to successfully connect to port 443 internally within your VM, but not externally. This suggests that the service on your VM is correctly set up to listen on port 443, but there is an issue with external access. Here are some steps to further investigate and resolve this:

1. Recheck External Firewall Rules:

   • Ensure your Google Cloud Platform (GCP) firewall rules are correctly configured to allow external access to port 443. It's possible that the rules are set to allow internal traffic but not external traffic.
   • Double-check the source ranges in your firewall rules. If they are too restrictive, they might be blocking external access.

2. Verify Network Tags:

   • Ensure that the network tags applied to your VM instance match the tags referenced in your firewall rules. This is a common oversight that can lead to connectivity issues.

3. Inspect IP Address Bindings:

   • Although the service is listening on port 443 internally, ensure it's bound to the public IP address of the VM or to 0.0.0.0 (which represents all IP addresses). Sometimes services are configured to listen only on the localhost (127.0.0.1) which would prevent external access.

4. Check for Load Balancers or Proxies:

   • If you are using a load balancer or a proxy, ensure that it is correctly configured to forward traffic to port 443 of your VM.

5. Review VPC Network Peering:

   • If your VM is part of a VPC network that is peered with another network, ensure that the peering configuration allows traffic to and from port 443.

6. Test with a Temporary Allow All Rule:

   • As a troubleshooting step, temporarily create a firewall rule that allows all inbound traffic to your VM. If this resolves the issue, it confirms that the problem is with the firewall configuration.

7. Consult Logs and Monitoring Tools:

   • Check GCP logs for any network-related errors or warnings.
   • Use GCP's monitoring tools to analyze traffic patterns and identify any blocks or filters impacting port 443.

8. Reach Out to GCP Support:

   • If the issue persists, consider reaching out to GCP support for more in-depth troubleshooting, especially since the problem might be related to specific configurations in your GCP environment.

Remember to revert any temporary changes (like the allow all rule) once you've finished troubleshooting to maintain the security of your VM.

[da_root]

Hello, here my config looks like:
1. 

2.  Already used corrected tags custom-tags and https-server

3. From console or ssh to check it

4. No load balancer or proxy used for this

5. For VPC Network currently still used default, should I created new custom one?

6. Already but still refused for 443

7. How to view this?

8 Noted

[ms4446]

Based on the details you've provided, here are the steps to further troubleshoot the "Connection Refused" error on port 443 in your Google Cloud VM:

1. Review Firewall Rules:

   • In the Google Cloud console, navigate to VPC Network -> Firewall policies. Ensure the rule allowing TCP traffic on ports 80 and 443:
     • Has the correct network tag (such as https-server) assigned to your VM instance.
     • Sets "IP ranges" to "0.0.0.0/0" for global access, or specific IP addresses if you want to restrict access.
   • Confirm that this rule is associated with the correct VPC network and has a high priority (lower numeric value).

2. Check Internal Firewall (VM):

   • SSH into your VM and inspect the local firewall settings:
     • For iptables: sudo iptables -L -n -v
     • For firewalld: sudo firewall-cmd --list-all
   • If port 443 is blocked, open it using the appropriate command for your firewall system.

3. Verify the Service on the VM:

   • Use these commands to check if a service is listening on port 443:
     • netstat -tulpn | grep 443 or netstat -tulpn | grep https to see if a process is actively listening on port 443.
     • ps aux | grep <service_name> and systemctl status <service_name> to verify if the service is running (replace <service_name> with your actual service name).

4. Test Basic Connectivity:

   • From your local machine, try telnet <VM_IP_Address> 443. If it doesn't connect, there might be a networking or firewall issue.
   • From within the VM, try telnet localhost 443 or curl -v localhost:443. If these don't connect, the service might not be configured correctly to listen on port 443.

5. VPC Network:

   • The default VPC network is generally sufficient. If you have complex setups like subnetworks or VPNs, ensure they are correctly configured. Consider creating a new VPC network with simple rules for troubleshooting if network configuration issues are suspected.

6. Confirm Port 443 is Open:

   • Use an online port scanner or tools like nmap to verify that port 443 is visible externally.

7. View Service Logs:

   • Check the logs for your service (e.g., Apache at /var/log/apache2, Nginx at /var/log/nginx) for any error messages related to port 443.
   • Also, review system logs (like /var/log/messages or /var/log/syslog) for networking or firewall-related errors.

Specific Configuration Checks:

• If using Apache or Nginx, ensure the Listen 443 directive is present in the configuration files, and the virtual host is correctly set up for HTTPS.
• For other services, please provide the service name for more specific guidance.

Additional Tips:

• Restart the service on your VM after making changes.
• If you've made network or firewall changes, consider restarting the networking service or the entire VM to ensure the changes take effect.

If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Google Cloud support for further assistance.

[da_root]

still not working. I checked the syslog and got error message:

Jan 18 01:12:18 backend-api gce_workload_cert_refresh[8644]: 2024/01/18 01:12:18: Error getting config status, workload certificates may not be configured: HTTP 404

[ms4446]

The "Error getting config status, workload certificates may not be configured: HTTP 404" message you're encountering is typically related to the Google Cloud Workload Identity feature. Here's an overview of the issue and steps to resolve it:

Explanation:

• GCE Workload Identity: This feature allows your VM to authenticate to Google APIs without a traditional service account key. The gce_workload_cert_refresh process on your VM manages the certificates used for this authentication.
• HTTP 404 Error: This error indicates that the gce_workload_cert_refresh process is unable to communicate with the Google Metadata Server, where the Workload Identity configuration is stored. This usually happens when your VM isn't correctly configured for Workload Identity.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Enable Workload Identity:

   • In the Google Cloud Console, go to your VM instance details.
   • Under the "Security" section, ensure "Enable Workload Identity" is checked. If not, enable it.

2. Network Access to the Metadata Server:

   • Confirm that your instance's network configuration allows access to the metadata server at the internal IP address 169.254.169.254.
   • In cases of restrictive network configurations, you might need to set specific firewall rules to permit access to the metadata server.

3. Verify Service Account and Scopes:

   • Ensure the service account linked to your VM has the necessary IAM permissions for the Google APIs you're using.
   • Typically, the "Compute Engine default service account" has sufficient permissions, but review the permissions for your specific API requirements.

If the Issue Persists:

• Check for Updates: Ensure you're using the latest version of the Google Cloud guest agent. Update it through your package manager if necessary.
• Review Documentation: Carefully go through the Workload Identity Documentation to ensure no steps were missed.
• Seek Google Cloud Support: If the problem remains unresolved, consider contacting Google Cloud Support for more in-depth assistance.

Additional Considerations:

• Complex Networking Setups: If you're using custom VPCs or intricate firewall rules, these may need adjustment to ensure access to the metadata server.
• Service Account Permissions: The required permissions for the service account vary based on the APIs you need. Consult the Google Cloud documentation for your specific APIs to understand the necessary permissions.

[da_root]

it will impact for my issue of 443 connection refused?

[ms4446]

Yes! Resolving the "HTTP 404” Workload Identity error could very well fix the "443 connection refused" issue:

Here's why:

• Authentication: Many services on Google Cloud rely on Workload Identity for authentication with other Google Cloud services. If Workload Identity isn't working correctly, the service on your VM might not be able to authenticate properly, even if the service itself is configured correctly for port 443. This could prevent access and result in a “connection refused” error.
• Dependency on Google APIs: If the service you’re using (the one you want to access on port 443) requires interaction with other Google Cloud APIs (like accessing a database,storage bucket, etc.), a failure in Workload Identity could block this interaction and stop the service from working correctly on port 443.

Indirect Impact: Even if the specific service that you are trying to use on port 443 doesn’t directly use Workload Identity, fixing this underlying issue will ensure that your VM is properly configured to communicate with Google Cloud services. This healthy setup is often essential for many applications to work correctly on Google Cloud instances.

So, to recap:

1. Address the Workload Identity issue by following the steps in my previous response.
2. Once Workload Identity is working properly,re-test access to your service on port 443.

It is very possible that after fixing the Workload Identity problem, your 443 “connection refused” issue may be automatically resolved. If not, we can continue troubleshooting the port 443 issue with the knowledge that Workload Identity is correctly configured.

[da_root]

Can't find the enabled workload identity section  on my GCE

can you please help, where to find it

[ms4446 · Accepted solution]

No problem! Here are the detailed steps on how to find and enable Workload Identity on your GCE instance:

Locating and Enabling Workload Identity on your GCE Instance

1. Navigate to VM Instance Details:

   • Go to the Google Cloud Console (https://console.cloud.google.com/)
   • Select "Compute Engine" from the main menu on the left.
   • Click on "VM Instances" to load up your list of instances.
   • Click on the name of the VM you are working with. This will open the details page for that instance.

2. Locate the "Security" Section:

   • On the left-hand menu of the instance's details page, find the "Security" section.Click on it.

3. Enable Workload Identity:

   • Within the "Security" section, you should find the "Workload Identity" setting (it might be collapsed).
   • If the "Workload Identity" box is not checked, check the box next to it to enable Workload Identity.

If You Don't See the "Workload Identity" Option:

• Cluster Node: If you are working with a VM that is part of a Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) cluster, you'll need to manage Workload Identity via the GKE settings. Refer to the GKE Workload Identity documentation:https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/how-to/workload-identity
• Older VMs: If you have a very old VM, you might need to recreate the instance to enable Workload Identity. For older VMs this option might not be available as a setting.

Important Notes:

• Once you enable Workload Identity, your instance might need to be restarted for the changes to fully take effect.
• Make sure the service account associated with your VM has the appropriate permissions for the APIs it needs to access. This will depend on what you are trying to do with the instance.

Additional Troubleshooting (if needed): If you've followed these steps and you still experience problems with port 443 after ensuring Workload Identity is enabled, please provide the following information so I can assist you further:

• Service or Application: What service are you trying to run on port 443 (e.g., Apache, Nginx,a custom application)?
• Error Messages: Any specific error messages you are seeing either in logs or when trying to connect.
• Network Configuration: If you have any custom VPCs, firewalls, or unusual network setup please provide some details.

[da_root]

---

@ms4446 wrote:

• Service or Application: What service are you trying to run on port 443 (e.g., Apache, Nginx,a custom application)?
• Error Messages: Any specific error messages you are seeing either in logs or when trying to connect.
• Network Configuration: If you have any custom VPCs, firewalls, or unusual network setup please provide some details.

---

Service or Application
Nginx

Error Messages:
Got this message: 443 port seems to be closed, check your firewall/server configuration. (tested from https://decoder.link/sslchecker/)

Network Configuration

Below is my custom VPC

[ms4446 · Accepted solution]

Based on the information you've provided, it seems like the issue with accessing Nginx on port 443 is likely due to a configuration problem either within Nginx itself or with your network setup. Here's a breakdown of potential issues and solutions:

Service or Application: Nginx

• Nginx Configuration: Ensure that Nginx is configured to listen on port 443 and that it's set up correctly for HTTPS. This includes having a server block in your Nginx configuration file (nginx.conf) with listen 443 ssl; and the correct SSL certificate and key specified.
• SSL Certificate: Verify that your SSL certificate is correctly installed and configured in Nginx. A misconfigured certificate can prevent Nginx from starting properly on port 443.

Error Messages:

• Port Closed Message: The message from the SSL checker tool suggests that port 443 is not accessible from the outside. This could be due to Nginx not listening on port 443, the VM's firewall blocking the port, or a misconfiguration in your VPC network.

Network Configuration: Custom VPC

• Firewall Rule:
  • Your custom VPC firewall rule seems to be set to allow all incoming traffic (0.0.0.0/0) on all protocols and ports. This should theoretically include port 443.
  • Double-check that this firewall rule is associated with the network your VM is in and that the VM has the correct network tags to match this rule.
• Priority: The priority of 65534 is very low, which is fine as long as there are no conflicting rules with higher priority that might override this one.

Additional Steps:

1. Check Nginx Status: Use sudo systemctl status nginx to check if Nginx is running. If it's not, try starting it with sudo systemctl start nginx.
2. Review Nginx Logs: Look at the Nginx error logs (typically found in /var/log/nginx/error.log) for any startup errors or issues related to SSL.
3. Test Nginx Locally: On the VM, use curl -k https://localhost or curl -k https://[VM's Internal IP] to test if Nginx is serving over HTTPS locally.
4. Check VM's Local Firewall: If your VM has a local firewall (like ufw or iptables), ensure it's not blocking port 443.
5. Verify External Access: Use a tool like nmap from an external machine to scan your VM's IP address and see if port 443 is open.

[da_root]

Thanks, finally solved