RabbitMQ

Learn how to add RabbitMQ as a datasource in StrongDM.

Overview

This guide outlines the configuration steps for adding RabbitMQ as a datasource in StrongDM.

When the resource is added, StrongDM proxies client connections through a node (gateway, relay, or proxy cluster). This enables centralized access control, credential management, and audit logging. The only supported RabbitMQ protocol for connections through StrongDM is the AMQP 0.9.1 model.

Use this guide to complete all necessary preparations for adding RabbitMQ as a resource to your StrongDM environment; input the correct properties in the Admin UI, CLI, SDKs, or Terraform provider; and test for a successful connection. Once complete, you’ll be able to use the StrongDM Desktop application or CLI to connect.

For general information about how to add a database as a resource in StrongDM, see our main guide, Add a Datasource.

Supported Versions and Clients

StrongDM supports MySQL version 5.7 and higher, including managed services like AWS RDS, Aurora MySQL, and Azure Database for MySQL.

StrongDM works with all standard MySQL clients and connectors, such as:

  • CLI Tools (mysql)

  • GUI interfaces (DataGrip, DBeaver, HeidiSQL)

  • Application drivers (JDBC, ODBC, Node.js, Python, Go, and so forth)

Prerequisites

To add your resource in StrongDM, you need to meet several technical and configuration prerequisites. Please ensure that the following requirements are met.

In StrongDM, you must have the following:

  • Administrator permission level

  • At least one operational StrongDM node (gateway, relay, or proxy cluster) that can reach the RabbitMQ broker’s hostname and port

  • If using secrets management tools for storing your database credentials, a Secret Store configured in StrongDM

To verify that the resource is accessible by the node, log in to the gateway or relay and use Netcat: nc -zv <HOSTNAME> <PORT> (in this example, nc -zv testdb-01.fancy.org 3306). If your gateway server can connect to this hostname, proceed.

Netcat is a tool for checking various hostnames and ports by either sending data (a ping) or checking for listeners on the ports. The command in the aforementioned example use "-z" to check for listeners without sending data and "-v" to show verbose output. If you don't have Netcat, you can install the Netcat package with whatever package manager you are using, such as "apt-get install netcat".

On the RabbitMQ side, you must have the following:

  • Running RabbitMQ broker that supports the AMQP 0.9.1 protocol (the only protocol supported by StrongDM for RabbitMQ)

  • Valid RabbitMQ user account with the necessary permissions to connect and interact with queues/exchanges

  • Network/firewall rules that allow inbound connections from your StrongDM nodes

  • TLS configured on the broker if you intend to set tls_required for the resource

Resource Management in StrongDM

After all prerequisites and prep work is done, you are ready to add the resource to StrongDM. This section provides instructions for adding the resource in either the StrongDM Admin UI, CLI, Terraform provider, or SDKs.

Set up and manage with the Admin UI

If using the Admin UI to add RabbitMQ as a resource to StrongDM, use the following steps.

  1. Log in to the StrongDM Admin UI.

  2. Go to Resources > Datasources.

  3. Click Add datasource.

  4. For Datasource Type, select RabbitMQ (AMQP 0.9.1).

  5. Complete all required configuration properties for your selected datasource type.

  6. Click Create to save the resource.

  7. Click the resource name to view status, diagnostic information, and setting details.

Configuration Properties

The following configuration properties are required to define a RabbitMQ datasource in StrongDM. These settings control how StrongDM connects to the database, authenticates the connection, and optionally uses encryption or secret management. Each property must be correctly configured to ensure connectivity and access enforcement through StrongDM.

Property
Requirement
Description

Display Name

Required

Meaningful name to display the resource throughout StrongDM; exclude special characters like quotes (") or angle brackets (< or >)

Datasource Type

Required

RabbitMQ (AMQP 0.9.1)

Proxy Cluster

Required

Defaults to "None (use gateways)"; if using proxy clusters, select the appropriate cluster to proxy traffic to this resource

Hostname

Required

Hostname for your database resource; must be accessible to a gateway or relay

Port

Required

Port to use when connecting to your resource; default port value is 5672

Connectivity Mode

Required

Select either Virtual Networking Mode, which lets users connect to the resource with a software-defined, IP-based network; or Loopback Mode, which allows users to connect to the resource using the local loopback adapter in their operating system; this field is shown if Virtual Networking Mode enabled for your organization

IP Address

Optional

If Virtual Networking Mode is the selected connectivity mode, an IP address value in the configured Virtual Networking Mode subnet in the organization network settings; if Loopback Mode is the selected connectivity mode, an IP address value in the configured Loopback IP range in the organization network settings (by default, 127.0.0.1); if not specified, an available IP address in the configured IP address space for the selected connectivity mode will be automatically assigned; this field is shown if Virtual Networking Mode and/or multi-loopback mode is enabled for your organization

Port Override

Optional

If Virtual Networking Mode is the selected connectivity mode, a port value between 1 and 65535 that is not already in use by another resource with the same IP address; if Loopback Mode is the selected connectivity mode, a port value between 1024 to 64999 that is not already in use by another resource with the same IP address; when left empty with Virtual Networking Mode, the system assigns the default port to this resource; when left empty for Loopback Mode, an available port that is not already in use by another resource is assigned; preferred port also can be modified later from the Port Overrides settings

DNS

Optional

If Virtual Networking Mode is the selected connectivity mode, a unique hostname alias for this resource; when set, causes the desktop app to display this resource's human-readable DNS name (for example, k8s.my-organization-name) instead of the bind address that includes IP address and port (for example, 100.64.100.100:5432)

Secret Store

Optional

Credential store location; defaults to Strong Vault; learn more about Secret Store options

Username

Required

Username to utilize when connecting to this datasource; displays when Secret Store integration is not configured for your organization or when StrongDM serves as the Secret Store type

Password

Required

Password for the user connecting to this datasource; displays when Secret Store integration is not configured for your organization or when StrongDM serves as the Secret Store type

Username (path)

Required

Path to the secret in your Secret Store location (for example, path/to/credential?key=optionalKeyName where key argument is optional); required when using a non-StrongDM Secret Store type

Password (path)

Required

Path to the secret in your Secret Store location (for example, path/to/credential?key=optionalKeyName where key argument is optional); required when using a non-StrongDM Secret Store type

TLS Required

Optional

Indicator to require StrongDM to use TLS to connect to the database

Resource Tags

Optional

Datasource Tags consisting of key-value pairs <KEY>=<VALUE> (for example, env=dev)

If the MIME Content Type of a given RabbitMQ message body is not text/plain or application/json, but is instead some form of binary data, StrongDM does not log that message body. Binary data could be anything in any format, and StrongDM would be unable to ascertain what it was or know how to display it in log records.

Secret Store options

By default, datasource credentials are stored in StrongDM. However, these credentials can also be saved in a secrets management tool.

Non-StrongDM options appear in the Secret Store dropdown if they are created under Network > Secret Stores. When you select another Secret Store type, its unique properties display. For more details, see Configure Secret Store Integrations.

Resource status

After a resource is created, the Admin UI displays that resource as unhealthy until the healthchecks run successfully. When the resource is ready, the Health icon indicates a positive, green status.

When the resource does not display a positive status, click the resource name to go to the Diagnostics tab and check for errors.

Test the Connection

After you have added your resource in StrongDM, follow these steps to verify that it’s working correctly.

  1. Assign yourself access by ensuring that your user or role has access to the resource. In the StrongDM Admin UI, go to Access > Roles, and verify that the resource is attached to a role you’re in.

  2. In the CLI, run sdm status to list the available datasources. Confirm that the resource is available.

  3. Start a session. For example:

    sdm connect rmq-prod

    See the CLI Reference documentation for details on sdm connect.

  4. Connect using an AMQP 0.9.1 client (for example, use a library or tool supporting AMQP 0.9.1, such as amqp in Node.js, or rabbitmq-ctl). Point it at the local endpoint that forwards to RabbitMQ. Send a simple command, publish or consume a message, or list queues (if user permissions permit).

  5. In the StrongDM Admin UI, check Logs > Queries (and Logs > Connections) to verify yerify your session was established; note that message bodies are only logged if their MIME type is text/plain or application/json (other types may be omitted).

When these steps succeed, you’re ready to connect to your resource through StrongDM.

Help

If you encounter issues, please consult the StrongDM Help Center.

Be prepared to provide the following information to StrongDM Support, so that they can inspect logs and confirm node and resource health:

  • Resource name or ID

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