Issue updating Ghost to 5.53.1

[aabulkhairov]

I host my Ghost blog on https://uklad.vc

I want to update to latest Ghost v5.53.1
Currently i have 5.51.1
My config is:

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v14.15.0
    Ghost Version: 5.51.1
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.24.0
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update'

While trying to update, updater gives message:

1. Checking system Node.js version

Message: The version of Node.js you are using is not supported.
Supported: ^12.22.1 || ^14.17.0 || ^16.13.0 || ^18.0.0
Installed: 14.15.0

However when i switch via nvm use 18

ghost update gives

1) Checking system Node.js version

Message: The version of Node.js you are using is not supported.
Supported: ^10.13.0 || ^12.10.0 || ^14.15.0
Installed: 18.12.1

I usually just switched to nvm use 16 or 18, and ghost update worked.
Now i guess something with node is broken and i can’t understand how to fix that

Any help would be appreciated!

[aabulkhairov]

Quick update - resolved by

nvm use 16.15.0 - i guess that’s a common overlapping compatible version given my messed config of server

[aabulkhairov]

Oh no after successful upgrade, the following error message happened:

✔ Fetched release notes
✔ Downloading and updating Ghost to v5.53.1
+ sudo systemctl stop ghost_blog-uklad-vc
✔ Stopping Ghost
✔ Linking latest Ghost and recording versions
+ sudo systemctl start ghost_blog-uklad-vc
Warning: Ghost is running with node v14.17.6.
Your current node version is v16.15.0.
+ sudo systemctl stop ghost_blog-uklad-vc
✖ Restarting Ghost
A GhostError occurred.

Message: Ghost was able to start, but errored during boot with: Cannot find module 'assert/strict'
Require stack:
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/node_modules/@tryghost/email-suppression-list/lib/email-suppression-list.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/node_modules/@tryghost/email-suppression-list/index.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/services/email-suppression-list/MailgunEmailSuppressionList.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/services/email-suppression-list/service.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/services/email-suppression-list/index.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/services/members/middleware.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/services/members/service.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/services/members/index.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/web/members/app.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/web/members/index.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/server/web/parent/frontend.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/core/boot.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/ghost.js
- /var/www/ghost/versions/5.53.1/index.js
Suggestion: journalctl -u ghost_blog-uklad-vc -n 50

Debug Information:
    OS: Ubuntu, v20.04.4 LTS
    Node Version: v16.15.0
    Ghost Version: 5.53.1
    Ghost-CLI Version: 1.24.0
    Environment: production
    Command: 'ghost update'

Additional log info available in: /home/ghost-mgr/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2023-06-28T07_01_50_875Z.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.



? Unable to upgrade Ghost from v5.51.1 to v5.53.1. Would you like to revert back to v5.51.1? Yes

[mjw]

You should have been running a supported version of node.

Supported node versions for self-hosted installs of Ghost

Try rolling back as suggested, and then update all node dependencies, e.g., npm update.

[Suporte_Toniflix.com]

Hi!!
I’m facing the same issue when upgrading from v5.52.3 to v5.53.3.

Ghost was able to start, but errored during boot with: Cannot find module ‘assert/strict’

Any guess on how to fix that?
Thank you in advance.
Antonio Gomes.

=============================
console output

Checking system Node.js version - found v14.21.3
Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
Checking if logged in user is directory owner
Checking current folder permissions
Checking folder permissions
Checking file permissions
Checking content folder ownership
Checking memory availability
Checking free space
Checking for available migrations
Checking for latest Ghost version

5.53.3

• Fixed signup card in post plaintext and email preheader (#17163) - Simon Backx
• Fixed repeating text in plaintext version of emails (#17162) - Simon Backx
• Fixed members-only content incorrectly showing in plaintext email (#17137) - Michael Barrett

---

View the changelog for full details: Comparing v5.53.2...v5.53.3 · TryGhost/Ghost · GitHub

Help us translate Ghost + Portal: Help translate Ghost (beta)

Fetched release notes
Version already installed.
Downloading and updating Ghost [skipped]

• sudo systemctl stop ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
  Stopping Ghost
  Linking latest Ghost and recording versions
• sudo systemctl start ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
• sudo systemctl stop ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
  Restarting Ghost
  A GhostError occurred.

Message: Ghost was able to start, but errored during boot with: Cannot find module ‘assert/strict’
Debug Information:
OS: Ubuntu, v22.04.2 LTS
Node Version: v14.21.3
Ghost Version: 5.53.3
Ghost-CLI Version: 1.24.1
Environment: production
Command: ‘ghost update’
? Unable to upgrade Ghost from v5.52.3 to v5.53.3. Would you like to revert back to v5.52.3? Yes

[mjw]

The solution is the same: install a supported version of Node before upgrading. Therefore, roll back, upgrade to Node 16 or 18, and then upgrade Ghost.

[Suporte_Toniflix.com]

Hi!!
Thank you for your reply!!
I applied your suggestion but got the same error message:

Ghost was able to start, but errored during boot with: Cannot find module ‘assert/strict’

=============================
Console output
Checking system Node.js version - found v18.16.0
Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
Checking if logged in user is directory owner
Checking current folder permissions
Checking folder permissions
Checking file permissions
Checking content folder ownership
Checking memory availability
Checking free space
Checking for available migrations
Checking for latest Ghost version

5.53.4

This release contains fixes for minor bugs and issues reported by Ghost users.

–

Fetched release notes
Downloading and updating Ghost to v5.53.4

• sudo systemctl stop ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
  Stopping Ghost
  Linking latest Ghost and recording versions
• sudo systemctl start ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
  Warning: Ghost is running with node v14.21.3.
  Your current node version is v18.16.0.

Restarting Ghost
A GhostError occurred.

Message: Ghost was able to start, but errored during boot with: Cannot find module ‘assert/strict’
Require stack:

• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/node_modules/@tryghost/email-suppression-list/lib/email-suppression-list.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/node_modules/@tryghost/email-suppression-list/index.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/services/email-suppression-list/MailgunEmailSuppressionList.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/services/email-suppression-list/service.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/services/email-suppression-list/index.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/services/members/middleware.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/services/members/service.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/services/members/index.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/web/members/app.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/web/members/index.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/server/web/parent/frontend.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/core/boot.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/ghost.js
• /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr/versions/5.53.4/index.js
  Suggestion: journalctl -u ghost_elearningcenter-com-br -n 50

Debug Information:
OS: Ubuntu, v22.04.2 LTS
Node Version: v18.16.0
Ghost Version: 5.53.4
Ghost-CLI Version: 1.24.1
Environment: production
Command: ‘ghost update’

Additional log info available in: /home/acpgomes/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2023-07-05T19_28_44_622Z.log

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

You can always refer to Ghost CLI - Ghost Developer Docs for troubleshooting.

? Unable to upgrade Ghost from v5.52.3 to v5.53.4. Would you like to revert back to v5.52.3? Yes

• sudo systemctl is-active ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
• sudo systemctl reset-failed ghost_elearningcenter-com-br
  Checking system Node.js version - found v18.16.0
  Ensuring user is not logged in as ghost user
  Checking if logged in user is directory owner
  Checking current folder permissions
  Checking folder permissions
  Checking file permissions
  Checking content folder ownership
  Checking free space
  Checking for available migrations
  Checking for latest Ghost version

5.52.3

• Fixed revision save reverting newly published post to draft (#17083) - Michael Barrett

---

View the changelog for full details: Comparing v5.52.2...v5.52.3 · TryGhost/Ghost · GitHub

Help us translate Ghost + Portal: Help translate Ghost (beta)

Fetched release notes
Downloading and updating Ghost [skipped]

• sudo /var/www/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/current/node_modules/.bin/knex-migrator-rollback
  Debug Information:
  OS: Ubuntu, v22.04.2 LTS
  Node Version: v18.16.0
  Ghost Version: 5.53.4
  Ghost-CLI Version: 1.24.1
  Environment: production
  Command: ‘ghost update’

Additional log info available in: /home/acpgomes/.ghost/logs/ghost-cli-debug-2023-07-05T19_28_44_622Z.log

Try running ghost doctor to check your system for known issues

? Unable to upgrade Ghost from v5.52.3 to v5.53.4. Would you like to revert back to v5.52.3? Yes

[mjw]

Make sure you have the latest command line utilities.

sudo npm install -g ghost-cli@latest

If you still get the error, try:

sudo npm install -g assert-strict
# or
sudo npm audit fix 

[maxpavlov]

End of 2024, still relevant, sudo npm install -g assert-strict doesn’t help. Node 18 or 20, same error during upgrade.

[Ugurcan_Lacin]

I spent 2 hours to fix this exact issue. Here is what I did.

After upgrading Node.js with NVM, Ghost still uses an old version due to systemd configuration.

Solution:

1. Find NVM Node.js Path:
   Find your path like below.

/home/youruser/.nvm/versions/node/v18.12.1/bin/node

3. Update Systemd Service File:
   Edit /lib/systemd/system/ghost_<your-domain-com>.service and replace the old Node.js path with the NVM path:

ExecStart=/home/youruser/.nvm/versions/node/v18.12.1/bin/node /usr/bin/ghost run

4. Reload and Restart:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart ghost_<your-domain-com>

5. Verify the Node.js version in use

sudo systemctl status ghost_<your-domain-com> | grep "node"

Why It Happens:
Systemd doesn’t recognize NVM environments. Updating the service file fixes this.

Hope this helps others avoid the same issue!