Ghost instance completely broken (with 502 Bad Gateway errors) after attempting to update to 4.38.0

Hello all,

My Ghost instance appears to be completely broken, and I would be extremely grateful if anyone could help me with this issue.

Below is my path of encountering errors, any suggested troubleshooting steps I took, and all of the log information. I have since updated the CLI (I didn’t notice the alert at first), but the errors remain the same.

Thank you for any time and consideration!

Best,
Joseph

Site: josephjwilk.com
Running from a DigitalOcean Ghost droplet
Debug Information (from command inline):
OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
Node Version: v14.19.0
Ghost Version: 4.36.3
Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
Environment: production
Command: β€˜ghost update --no-mem-check’

While in the middle of updating Ghost from terminal, I encountered an internet outage. I then attempted to update again once reconnected and got the following error.

You are running an outdated version of Ghost-CLI.
It is recommended that you upgrade before continuing.
Run `npm install -g ghost-cli@latest` to upgrade.

+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ” Checking system Node.js version - found v14.19.0
βœ” Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
βœ” Checking if logged in user is directory owner
βœ” Checking current folder permissions
βœ” Checking folder permissions
βœ” Checking file permissions
βœ” Checking content folder ownership
βœ” Checking free space
βœ” Checking for available migrations
βœ” Checking for latest Ghost version

# 4.38.0

* ✨ Added "Created", "Paid start date", and "Next billing date" date-based filters to members list screen (TryGhost/Admin#2290) - Kevin Ansfield
* ✨ Added >, <, >=, and <= operators to match helper  (#14215) - Simon Backx
* 🎨 Updated Casper to v4.7.3 - Daniel Lockyer
* 🎨 Updated Member page layout (TryGhost/Admin#2271) - Sanne de Vries
* πŸ› Removed empty benefits before saving (TryGhost/Admin#2284) - Simon Backx
* πŸ› Fixed sending non-integer prices to tiers api (TryGhost/Admin#2288) - Rishabh Garg
* πŸ› Fixed members table showing dates in UTC rather than site timezone - Kevin Ansfield
* πŸ› Fixed incorrect {{access}} property when using get/next-post/prev-post helpers (#14256) - Simon Backx
* πŸ› Fixed missing index page from pages sitemaps - Naz

---

View the changelogs for full details:
* Ghost - https://github.com/tryghost/ghost/compare/v4.37.0...v4.38.0
* Admin - https://github.com/tryghost/admin/compare/v4.37.0...v4.38.0

βœ” Fetched release notes
Version already installed.
β„Ή Downloading and updating Ghost [skipped]
+ sudo systemctl stop ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ” Stopping Ghost
βœ” Linking latest Ghost and recording versions
+ sudo systemctl start ghost_josephjwilk-com
+ sudo systemctl stop ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ– Restarting Ghost
A GhostError occurred.

Message: Could not communicate with Ghost
Suggestion: journalctl -u ghost_josephjwilk-com -n 50

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update --no-mem-check'

Additional log info available in: /home/ghost-mgr/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2022-03-06T15_04_37_089Z.log

Try running ghost doctor to check your system for known issues.

You can always refer to https://ghost.org/docs/ghost-cli/ for troubleshooting.

When I went to the log, this is what I found:

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update --no-mem-check'
Message: The database migration in Ghost encountered an error.
Help: https://ghost.org/docs/faq/
Suggestion: ghost update --rollback
--------------- stderr ---------------
sudo: /var/www/ghost/current/node_modules/.bin/knex-migrator-rollback: command not found

It then asked me if I wanted to revert Ghost to a prior version, which I chose yes, only to get the following error:

? **Unable to upgrade Ghost from v4.36.3 to v4.38.0. Would you like to revert back**

**to v4.36.3?** Yes

+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com

+ sudo systemctl reset-failed ghost_josephjwilk-com

βœ” Checking system Node.js version - found v14.19.0

βœ” Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user

βœ” Checking if logged in user is directory owner

βœ” Checking current folder permissions

βœ” Checking folder permissions

βœ” Checking file permissions

βœ” Checking content folder ownership

βœ” Checking free space

βœ” Checking for available migrations

βœ” Checking for latest Ghost version

# 4.36.3

* πŸ› Fixed saving of custom integrations - Kevin Ansfield

* πŸ› Fixed "Enable email open-rate" toggle - Kevin Ansfield

---

View the changelogs for full details:

* Ghost - https://github.com/tryghost/ghost/compare/v4.36.2...v4.36.3

* Admin - https://github.com/tryghost/admin/compare/v4.36.2...v4.36.3

βœ” Fetched release notes

β„Ή Downloading and updating Ghost [skipped]

+ sudo /var/www/ghost/current/node_modules/.bin/knex-migrator-rollback --force --v 4.36.3 --mgpath /var/www/ghost/current

βœ– Rolling back database migrations

A ProcessError occurred.

Message: The database migration in Ghost encountered an error.

Help: https://ghost.org/docs/faq/

Suggestion: ghost update --rollback

Debug Information:

OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS

Node Version: v14.19.0

Ghost Version: 4.38.0

Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3

Environment: production

Command: 'ghost update --no-mem-check'

Additional log info available in: /home/ghost-mgr/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2022-03-06T15_22_51_374Z.log

Try running ghost doctor to check your system for known issues.

You can always refer to https://ghost.org/docs/ghost-cli/ for troubleshooting.

When I looked at that log, I got the following message:

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update --no-mem-check'
Message: The database migration in Ghost encountered an error.
Help: https://ghost.org/docs/faq/
Suggestion: ghost update --rollback
--------------- stderr ---------------
sudo: /var/www/ghost/current/node_modules/.bin/knex-migrator-rollback: command not found

This was the output from ghost doctor:

ghost-mgr@josephjwilk:/var/www/ghost$ ghost doctor
βœ” Checking system Node.js version - found v14.19.0
βœ” Checking logged in user
βœ” Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
βœ” Checking if logged in user is directory owner
βœ” Checking current folder permissions
βœ” Checking system compatibility
βœ” Checking for a MySQL installation
+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ” Validating config
βœ” Checking folder permissions
βœ” Checking file permissions
βœ” Checking content folder ownership
βœ” Checking memory availability
βœ” Checking binary dependencies
βœ” Checking free space
βœ” Checking systemd unit file
βœ” Checking systemd node version - found v14.19.0

When I ran the suggested ghost update --rollback command, the following happened:

You are running an outdated version of Ghost-CLI.
It is recommended that you upgrade before continuing.
Run `npm install -g ghost-cli@latest` to upgrade.

+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ” Checking system Node.js version - found v14.19.0
βœ” Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
βœ” Checking if logged in user is directory owner
βœ” Checking current folder permissions
βœ” Checking folder permissions
βœ” Checking file permissions
βœ” Checking content folder ownership
βœ” Checking free space
βœ” Checking for available migrations
βœ” Checking for latest Ghost version

# 4.36.3

* πŸ› Fixed saving of custom integrations - Kevin Ansfield
* πŸ› Fixed "Enable email open-rate" toggle - Kevin Ansfield

---

View the changelogs for full details:
* Ghost - https://github.com/tryghost/ghost/compare/v4.36.2...v4.36.3
* Admin - https://github.com/tryghost/admin/compare/v4.36.2...v4.36.3

βœ” Fetched release notes
β„Ή Downloading and updating Ghost [skipped]
+ sudo /var/www/ghost/current/node_modules/.bin/knex-migrator-rollback --force --v 4.36.3 --mgpath /var/www/ghost/current
βœ– Rolling back database migrations
A ProcessError occurred.

Message: The database migration in Ghost encountered an error.
Help: https://ghost.org/docs/faq/
Suggestion: ghost update --rollback

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update --no-mem-check --rollback'

Additional log info available in: /home/ghost-mgr/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2022-03-06T15_26_31_372Z.log

Try running ghost doctor to check your system for known issues.

You can always refer to https://ghost.org/docs/ghost-cli/ for troubleshooting.

Again, the log had essentially the same message as the prior ones:

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update --no-mem-check --rollback'
Message: The database migration in Ghost encountered an error.
Help: https://ghost.org/docs/faq/
Suggestion: ghost update --rollback
--------------- stderr ---------------
sudo: /var/www/ghost/current/node_modules/.bin/knex-migrator-rollback: command not found

This is the result of running ghost status:

+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com
+ sudo systemctl reset-failed ghost_josephjwilk-com
β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”
β”‚ Name            β”‚ Location       β”‚ Version β”‚ Status  β”‚ URL β”‚ Port β”‚ Process Manager β”‚
β”œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”Όβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”Όβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”Όβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”Όβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”Όβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”Όβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€
β”‚ josephjwilk-com β”‚ /var/www/ghost β”‚ 4.38.0  β”‚ stopped β”‚ n/a β”‚ n/a  β”‚ n/a             β”‚
β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜

When attempting to start Ghost, I get the following errors:

+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com
+ sudo systemctl reset-failed ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ” Checking system Node.js version - found v14.19.0
βœ” Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
βœ” Checking if logged in user is directory owner
βœ” Checking current folder permissions
+ sudo systemctl is-active ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ” Validating config
βœ” Checking folder permissions
βœ” Checking file permissions
βœ” Checking content folder ownership
βœ” Checking memory availability
βœ” Checking binary dependencies
βœ” Checking systemd unit file
βœ” Checking systemd node version - found v14.19.0
+ sudo systemctl start ghost_josephjwilk-com
+ sudo systemctl stop ghost_josephjwilk-com
βœ– Starting Ghost: josephjwilk-com
A GhostError occurred.

Message: Could not communicate with Ghost
Suggestion: journalctl -u ghost_josephjwilk-com -n 50

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost start'

Additional log info available in: /home/ghost-mgr/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2022-03-06T16_03_24_141Z.log

Try running ghost doctor to check your system for known issues.

You can always refer to https://ghost.org/docs/ghost-cli/ for troubleshooting.

That log reads as follows:

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.19.0
    Ghost Version: 4.38.0
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.17.3
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost start'
Message: Could not communicate with Ghost
Suggestion: journalctl -u ghost_josephjwilk-com -n 50
Stack: Error: Could not communicate with Ghost
    at Server.<anonymous> (/usr/lib/node_modules/ghost-cli/lib/utils/port-polling.js:91:20)
    at Object.onceWrapper (events.js:519:28)
    at Server.emit (events.js:400:28)
    at emitCloseNT (net.js:1677:8)
    at processTicksAndRejections (internal/process/task_queues.js:81:21)

When I run the journalctl -u ghost_josephjwilk-com -n 50 command, I get the following output:

Mar 06 15:58:26 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Stopped Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:26 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Started Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: - Inspecting operating system
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:905
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:   throw err;
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:   ^
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: Error: Cannot find module 'luxon'
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: Require stack:
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/boot.js
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/ghost.js
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/index.js
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:902:15)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:746:27)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:974:19)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:101:18)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Object.<anonymous> (/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js:8:15)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1085:14)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1114:10)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:950:32)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:790:12)
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:974:19) {
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:   code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:   requireStack: [
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js',
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/boot.js',
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/ghost.js',
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/index.js'
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]:   ]
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk node[25469]: }
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Succeeded.
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 3.
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Stopped Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:27 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Started Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: - Inspecting operating system
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:905
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:   throw err;
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:   ^
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: Error: Cannot find module 'luxon'
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: Require stack:
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/boot.js
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/ghost.js
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/index.js
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:902:15)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:746:27)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:974:19)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:101:18)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Object.<anonymous> (/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js:8:15)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1085:14)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1114:10)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:950:32)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:790:12)
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:974:19) {
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:   code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:   requireStack: [
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js',
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/boot.js',
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/ghost.js',
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/index.js'
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]:   ]
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk node[25505]: }
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Succeeded.
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 4.
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Stopped Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:28 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Started Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: - Inspecting operating system
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:905
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:   throw err;
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:   ^
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: Error: Cannot find module 'luxon'
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: Require stack:
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/boot.js
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/ghost.js
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: - /var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/index.js
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:902:15)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:746:27)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:974:19)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:101:18)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Object.<anonymous> (/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js:8:15)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1085:14)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1114:10)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:950:32)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:790:12)
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:974:19) {
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:   code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:   requireStack: [
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/server/overrides.js',
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/core/boot.js',
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/ghost.js',
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:     '/var/www/ghost/versions/4.38.0/index.js'
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]:   ]
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk node[25541]: }
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Succeeded.
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Stopped Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk systemd[1]: ghost_josephjwilk-com.service: Failed with result 'start-limit-hit'.
Mar 06 15:58:29 josephjwilk systemd[1]: Failed to start Ghost systemd service for blog: josephjwilk-com.
1 Like

ghost update --rollback appears to have failed because of this error. However, this binary should be in the node_modules folder. Others may have some suggestions, but I’d take a copy of the database (mysqldump) and then restore the droplet from backup.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Stupidly, I neglected to enable backups and, if this instance proves unfixable, would need to start from scratch with a new droplet entirely. I am a hobbyist with little database experience and am a little unclear how I would be able to use this mysqldump app in such a case.

Hello all, I have attempted to look further into what I can do, with no success. Is there anyone else who may be able to provide me with guidance as to the best way to resuscitate my site or at least successfully backup and restore this instance onto a rebuilt droplet?

What have you tried? As mentioned earlier, you should take a backup of the database.

1 Like

Thankfully, I was able to finally fix this. For posterity, I will outline the steps that ultimately worked:

  • use MySQLDump to export the ghost_production database to an SQL file
  • scp the file and content folder to my local machine
  • rebuild the DigitalOcean droplet
  • go through the initial setup
  • delete all of the tables in the new ghost_production database
  • import the tables from the SQL file into the database
  • log into Ghost and export the JSON, as well as the member CSV (none of the posts actually populated on the web, though they showed in the backend)
  • rebuild the DigitalOcean droplet (again)
  • go through the initial setup (again)
  • delete all posts and pages
  • scp the image subfolder to the content folder
  • upload prior themes
  • import the JSON and member CSV

I really appreciate you taking the time to inquire and share that resource, @mjw! It ended up being a really helpful piece of the puzzle.

4 Likes

Thank you so much for this! I can’t believe how many problems I just ran into trying to fix problems that occurred when upgrading from Ghost v3 to v5. I had some kind of migration errors that I couldn’t remedy. At first, I didn’t want to follow all these steps because it seemed too tedious, but I would’ve saved a lot more time in the end if I had.

In the end, I didn’t rebuild the whole droplet because I have lots of other things running on the same droplet, but instead just used ghost uninstall and started the ghost install from scratch. I also had issues with SSL not working - something about not being able to find the fullchain.cer file (even though it was there!). So I did all the setup steps with ghost except SSL and reloading NGINX and used certbot manually instead.

I also didn’t delete all the tables before loading the dump I made earlier, and just loaded it on top of the other tables. That worked great for me!

Anyway, thanks again!

1 Like