Solved: NodeRED - Cannot install plugins via NodeRed Pallete Manager (InfluxDB plugin error)

cal9mx2 · ‎08-06-2024

Equipment

CtrlX Virtual V2.6.8 (Image Version)
- Running in RB Laptop
- Active VPN in use
DC_App_Paket_2.6.2 (Node RED RED-V-0206.5+3.1.11-ctrlx)

Objective

Install "node-red-contrib-influxdb 0.7.0" to store information in InfluxDB through NodeRed and/or any other NodeRed plugin.

Prerequisites

Proxy installed & running in PC (Px.exe in my case)
- As you need to connect to the internet to download the NodeRed Libraries, first you need to have a proxy started in the local computer and enable it through the CtrlX Core in case you are using a Bosch computer, as it is connected to the Bosch Network.
- Follow this tutorial for CtrlX Core Virtual: Connect ctrlX COREvirtual to the internet (boschrexroth.com)
- Follow this tutorial for Physical CtrlX Core: Connect real ctrlX CORE via proxy to the Internet (boschrexroth.com)
- Proxy used: https://github.com/genotrance/px/releases
  - File (Windows exec): https://github.com/genotrance/px/releases/download/v0.9.2/px-v0.9.2-windows-amd64.zip
  - To run proxy execute "px.exe" file & check task manager to be running 2-3 instances.
CtrlX Core - Proxy Configuration (http://10.0.2.2:3128) - "Port-forwarding mode"
CtrlX Core - Date & Time updated
Virtual Core Settings
Firewall Inbound Rule for Proxy

Problem

Proxy Setup on Core

When doing an HTTP connection check, the Core is connected to the Internet

But when trying to install NodeRED plugins via the pallet manager it appears the following error for "node-red-contrib-influxdb".

-----------------------------------------------------------
2024-08-05T23:46:12.762Z Install : node-red-contrib-influxdb 0.7.0

2024-08-05T23:46:11.417Z npm install --no-audit --no-update-notifier --no-fund --save --save-prefix=~ --production --engine-strict node-red-contrib-influxdb@0.7.0
2024-08-05T23:46:12.043Z [err] npm warn config production Use `--omit=dev` instead.
2024-08-05T23:47:23.598Z [err] npm error code E502
2024-08-05T23:47:23.602Z [err] npm error 502 6; Could not resolve or connect to proxy or host - GET https://registry.npmjs.org/node-red-contrib-influxdb
2024-08-05T23:47:23.604Z [err] 
2024-08-05T23:47:23.605Z [err] npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /root/snap/ctrlx-node-red/1273/.npm/_logs/2024-08-05T23_46_11_889Z-debug-0.log
2024-08-05T23:47:23.625Z rc=1

When trying to check the connection to "https://registry.npmjs.org" through the web interface appears the following:

The date & time is already synchronized with the browser & Laptop time

Workaround (not solution)

A workaround I managed to do is to download the InfluxDB package locally to the PC, and then upload it to the CtrlX Core by using the following link structure and copying it to any browser.

https://registry.npmjs.org/[PACKAGE_NAME]/-/[PACKAGE_NAME]-[VERSION].tgz

Example on link structure with InfluxDB package Version 0.7.0
- https://registry.npmjs.org/node-red-contrib-influxdb/-/node-red-contrib-influxdb-0.7.0.tgz
- PACKAGE_NAME: node-red-contrib-influxdb
- VERSION: 0.7.0
- If you need an older version of the plugin, it can be installed by only writing the desired version on the URL.
You can find the package names in the following link
- https://flows.nodered.org/search?term=influx
To Install click on the following button in NodeRed Pallete and select the ".trz" plugin.

Is there any solution to correctly download the packages via the CtrlX Core and avoid using the workaround?

I want to replicate this procedure with a physical CtrlX and there are some restrictions due to IT & security factors.

The Physical CtrlX Image version is the 1.20.12 and found some issues regarding NodeRED app not working after proxy is started. It says "App Unavailable". When proxy is shut down, the app continues working properly. Do you know how to solve this issue? (Upgrading the CtrlX Core to version 2.6 may not be an option, as it is not allowed) Here, more of this issue: Solved: Re: NodeRED RED-V-0204.0+3.1.0-ctrlx does not start when using a proxy (boschrexroth.com)

References

CodeShepherd · ‎08-12-2024

Two things you can do:

Use our "Node Packer Tool" to generate an offline installable Node-RED palette
1. More information: boschrexroth/node-packager (github.com)
2. Download: Release v1.0.0 · boschrexroth/node-packager (github.com)
There is a known problem if a proxy is used and "localhost" is missing as exception in the settings.
1. Update Node-RED app corresponding to the ctrlX OS:
  1. 2.6.5 + 3.1.11
  2. 1.20.9 + 3.1.11
  3. 3.2.0 + 4.0.2