# RDS PostgreSQL (IAM) ## Overview This guide outlines the configuration steps for adding an RDS PostgreSQL database as a datasource in StrongDM using using AWS IAM authentication. When the resource is added, StrongDM proxies client connections through a [node](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/networking/gateways-and-relays) (gateway, relay, or proxy cluster). This enables centralized access control, credential management, and audit logging. Use this guide to complete all necessary preparations for adding Presto 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](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/resources/datasources). ## Supported Versions and Clients StrongDM supports AWS RDS PostgreSQL instances that have IAM authentication enabled. Clients supported include standard PostgreSQL clients and drivers that support IAM token authentication, such as: * `psql` with IAM token support * GUI tools or ORMs that can use AWS IAM-based authentication for RDS * Application libraries/drivers (Java, Go, Python, and so forth) that can generate RDS IAM tokens and use them in place of password authentication ## 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 RDS PostgreSQL endpoint (hostname and port) * If using secrets management tools for storing your database credentials, a Secret Store configured in StrongDM {% hint style="info" %} To verify that the resource is accessible by the node, log in to the gateway or relay and use Netcat: `nc -zv ` (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". {% endhint %} #### On the Presto side, you must have the following: * RDS PostgreSQL instance with IAM authentication enabled in the AWS console under "Database authentication" settings. * PostgreSQL user account that has been granted the `rds_iam` permission (`GRANT rds_iam TO db_userx`) * IAM role attached to the gateway/relay (or EC2/compute where the connection will originate) with a policy that allows the action `rds-db:connect` on the DB user in question. See the [Resource Setup](#resource-setup) section for an example policy. ## Resource Setup Some setup steps are required to prepare an RDS PostgreSQL (IAM) resource to receive connections via StrongDM. 1. The AWS administrator should enable IAM authentication for the target PostgreSQL cluster in the AWS Management Console. This can be done at creation, or be modified at a later time. This is done by locating the **Database authentication** setting and choosing the option **Password and IAM database authentication**. 2. A PostgreSQL administrator needs to log in to the database and grant the `rds_iam` permission either to an existing user or a newly created user for use with StrongDM. For example, `GRANT rds_iam TO db_userx` where `db_userx` is the username. 3. Finally, the AWS administrator needs to add an IAM policy to the IAM role that is attached to the gateway/relay to allow access. ```json { "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Action": [ "rds-db:connect" ], "Resource": [ "arn:aws:rds-db:us-east-2:1234567890:dbuser:cluster-ABCDEFGHIJKL01234/db_userx" ] } ] } ``` ## 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. {% tabs %} {% tab title="Admin UI" %} **Set up and manage with the Admin UI** If using the Admin UI to add RDS PostgreSQL (IAM) as a resource to StrongDM, use the following steps. 1. Log in to the StrongDM Admin UI. 2. Go to **Resources** > **Managed Resources**. 3. Click **Add Resource**. 4. For **Resource Type**, select **RDS PostgreSQL (IAM)**. 5. Complete all required [configuration properties](#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. {% endtab %} {% tab title="CLI" %} **Set up and Manage With the CLI** This section provides an example of how to add the resource using the StrongDM CLI. For more information and examples, please see the [CLI Reference](https://app.gitbook.com/s/4XOJmXFslCMVCzIG2rKp/cli) documentation. ``` # Add RDS PostgreSQL (IAM) datasource sdm admin datasources add rdspostgresiam rds-pg-iam-prod --hostname="rds-pg-iam.example.org" --port=5432 --database="productiondb" --username="db_userx" --region="us-east-2" --tls-required --bind-interface="127.0.0.1" --egress-filter="tag:env=prod" --proxy-cluster-id="n-1a2b345c67890123" --secret-store-id="se-e1b2" --subdomain="rds-pg-iam-prod" --tags="env=production,team=data" ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="Terraform" %} **Set up and Manage With Terraform** This section provides an example of how to configure and manage the resource using the Terraform provider. For more information and examples, please see the [Terraform provider](https://github.com/strongdm/terraform-provider-sdm) documentation. ``` # Install StrongDM provider terraform { required_providers { sdm = { source = "strongdm/sdm" version = "16.5.0" } } } # Configure StrongDM provider provider "sdm" { # Add API access key and secret key from Admin UI api_access_key = "njjSn...5hM" api_secret_key = "ziG...=" } resource "sdm_rdspostgresiam" "rds_pg_iam_prod" { name = "rds-pg-iam-prod" hostname = "rds-pg-iam.example.org" port = 5432 database = "productiondb" username = "db_userx" region = "us-east-2" tls_required = true bind_interface = "127.0.0.1" egress_filter = "tag:env=prod" proxy_cluster_id = "n-1a2b345c67890123" secret_store_id = "se-e1b2" subdomain = "rds-pg-iam-prod" tags = { env = "production" team = "data" } } ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="SDKs" %} **Set up and manage with SDKs** In addition to the Admin UI, CLI, and Terraform, you may configure and manage your resource with any of the following SDK options: Go, Java, Python, and Ruby. Please see the following references for more information and examples. | Language | Reference | GitHub | Examples | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Go | [pkg.go.dev](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-go/v16) | [strongdm-sdk-go](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-go) | [Go SDK Examples](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-go-examples) | | Java | [javadoc](https://strongdm.github.io/strongdm-sdk-java-docs/) | [strongdm-sdk-java](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-java) | [Java SDK Examples](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-java-examples) | | Python | [pdocs](https://strongdm.github.io/strongdm-sdk-python-docs/) | [strongdm-sdk-python](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-python) | [Python SDK Examples](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-python-examples) | | Ruby | [RubyDoc](https://www.rubydoc.info/gems/strongdm) | [strongdm-sdk-ruby](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-ruby) | [Ruby SDK Examples](https://github.com/strongdm/strongdm-sdk-ruby-examples) | | {% endtab %} | | | | | {% endtabs %} | | | | ## **Configuration Properties** The following configuration properties are required to define an RDS PostgreSQL (IAM) 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 >) | | **Resource Type** | Required | **RDS PostgreSQL (IAM)** | | **Proxy Cluster** | Required | Defaults to "None (use gateways)"; if using [proxy clusters](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/networking/proxy-clusters), select the appropriate cluster to proxy traffic to this resource | | **Hostname** | Required | Hostname for your resource; [must be accessible](#prerequisites) to a gateway or relay | | **Port** | Required | Port to use when connecting to your RDS PostgreSQL (IAM) database; default port value is **5432** | | **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](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/clients/client-networking/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](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/clients/client-networking/virtual-networking-mode) and/or [multi-loopback mode](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/clients/client-networking/loopback-ip-ranges) 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](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/resources/port-overrides) | | **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`) | | **Database** | Required | Database name you would like to connect to using this datasource | | **Secret Store** | Optional | Credential store location; defaults to none (credentials are stored in StrongDM resource configuration); learn more about [Secret Store](#secret-store-options) 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 | | **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 | | **Restrict Database** | Optional | When selected, limits all connections to the configured database | | **Region** | Required | AWS region to connect to (for example, `us-west-2`) | | **Assume Role ARN** | Optional | Role ARN, such as `arn:aws:iam::000000000000:role/RoleName`, that allows users accessing this resource to assume a role using [AWS AssumeRole](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/STS/latest/APIReference/API_AssumeRole.html) | | **Resource Tags** | Optional | Datasource [Tags](https://app.gitbook.com/s/4XOJmXFslCMVCzIG2rKp/cli/tags "mention") consisting of key-value pairs `=` (for example, `env=dev`) | ### 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](https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/access/secret-stores). ### 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: ```bash sdm connect rds-pg-iam-prod ``` 4. Connect using a PostgreSQL client capable of IAM token authentication (for example, generate an IAM auth token, and then connect using `psql` or similar). For example: ```bash PGPASSWORD="$(aws rds generate-db-auth-token --hostname rds-pg-iam.example.org --port 5432 --region us-east-2 --username db_userx)" \ psql "host=localhost port= dbname=productiondb user=db_userx sslmode=require" ``` 5. In the StrongDM Admin UI, check **Logs > Queries** (and **Logs > Connections**) to verify that session and SQL commands were captured. 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](https://help.strongdm.com/hc/en-us). 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 * CLI error output or logs * Node name and region --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.strongdm.com/admin/resources/datasources/rds-postgresql-iam.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. 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