# Environment Variables

WireBuddy reads configuration from process environment variables. Local starts
through `python run.py` also load `.env`; the configuration loader retains
`settings.env` as a lower-precedence compatibility source. Docker Compose uses
the root `.env` file explicitly in the documented commands.

Most reverse-proxy and origin-dependent behavior (CSRF, passkeys, Host-header
validation, secure cookies) auto-derives from a single `WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN`
setting. Configure that first; only add the more specific variables below if
you have a concrete reason to override the derived default.

## Quick Configuration

```bash
cp .env-example .env
python3 -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(32))"
```

Store the generated value in `.env`:

```bash
WIREBUDDY_SECRET_KEY=<generated-value>
LOG_LEVEL=INFO
TZ=Etc/UTC
```

Start the supplied Docker deployment with:

```bash
docker compose --env-file .env -f docker/docker-compose.yml up -d
```

## Core Application

### `WIREBUDDY_SECRET_KEY`

Required in master mode. It encrypts WireGuard private keys, preshared keys,
OTP secrets, and other sensitive values and must contain at least 32 UTF-8
bytes.

```bash
WIREBUDDY_SECRET_KEY=<generated-value>
```

Generate it with either:

```bash
openssl rand -base64 32
python3 -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(32))"
```

!!! danger
    Never commit, rotate casually, or lose this key. Existing encrypted data
    cannot be recovered with a different key.

The key is not required in node mode because enrolled nodes authenticate with
their node credentials.

### `SERVER_MODE`

Selects the process role:

- `master`: web UI, API, database, DNS, scheduling, and node management
- `node`: remote WireGuard node daemon without the web UI

Default: `master`.

### `LOG_LEVEL`

Accepted values: `CRITICAL`, `ERROR`, `WARNING`, `INFO`, and `DEBUG`.

Default: `INFO`. Invalid values fall back to `INFO`.

### `TZ`

IANA time-zone name used by scheduled tasks and UI formatting.

```bash
TZ=Europe/Berlin
```

Docker default: `Etc/UTC`.

### `WIREBUDDY_DATA_DIR`

Base directory for persistent data. The database, TSDB, DNS files,
certificates, and GeoIP databases live below it.

- Local default: `<project>/data`
- Supplied Docker Compose value: `/app/data`

### `WIREBUDDY_DEV_RELOAD`

Set to `true`, `1`, or `yes` to enable Uvicorn reload when starting through
`python run.py`. Development only.

## Web Server

### `WIREBUDDY_HOST`

Docker-entrypoint override for the web bind address.

Without this override, the entrypoint reads **Only listen on Localhost** from
the database and otherwise listens on `0.0.0.0` for a fresh installation.

```bash
WIREBUDDY_HOST=127.0.0.1
```

### `WIREBUDDY_PORT`

Docker-entrypoint override for the GUI port. Valid range: `1`–`65535`.

Without this override, the entrypoint uses the database setting **HTTP Port
(GUI)**. Fresh-installation default: `8000`. The supplied Compose file always
sets `WIREBUDDY_PORT`, so there the database setting has no effect.

```bash
WIREBUDDY_PORT=8080
```

`HOST` and `PORT` are not WireBuddy configuration variables.

### `UVICORN_GRACEFUL_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT`

Docker Uvicorn graceful-shutdown timeout in seconds. Accepted range: `1`–`300`.

Default: `8`.

!!! note
    The web server is single-worker only and this is not configurable. The
    job queue, rate limiter, and session/MFA caches live in process memory,
    so a second worker would make that state diverge between processes.

## Reverse Proxy and Origin Handling

### `WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN`

Canonical public URL of this instance, e.g. `https://vpn.example.com`.
Configuring this alone derives:

- CSRF allowed origins
- The passkey/WebAuthn relying-party ID and expected origin
- The Host-header allowlist (`TrustedHostMiddleware`), unless
  `WIREBUDDY_ALLOWED_HOSTS` is set explicitly
- Secure cookie flags and HSTS — enabled automatically for `https://` origins

```bash
WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN=https://vpn.example.com
```

### `WIREBUDDY_TRUSTED_PROXIES`

Comma-separated reverse-proxy IPs/CIDRs. This single variable is used for:

- Uvicorn's `--forwarded-allow-ips` (which peers may set `X-Forwarded-*`)
- Application-level client-IP extraction and HTTPS-cookie detection
- The node mTLS client-certificate fingerprint header (master side)

Default: `127.0.0.0/8,::1/128` for cookie/HTTPS detection and Uvicorn's
forwarded-header trust (a local reverse proxy on the same host just works).
The public `/status` page and node mTLS fingerprint trust are more sensitive
and default to trusting **nothing** beyond loopback until this is set
explicitly — see [Status Page](status-page.md).

```bash
WIREBUDDY_TRUSTED_PROXIES=192.168.1.10/32
```

`*` is rejected by the Docker entrypoint.

### `WIREBUDDY_CSRF_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`

Comma-separated additional origins accepted by CSRF origin validation, beyond
`WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN`. Only needed when serving under multiple hostnames.

```bash
WIREBUDDY_CSRF_ALLOWED_ORIGINS=https://vpn2.example.com
```

### `WIREBUDDY_ALLOWED_HOSTS`

Optional comma-separated Host-header allowlist. Derived automatically from the
hostname in `WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN` when unset. Set this explicitly only to
accept additional hostnames or when no public origin is configured. If neither
is set, Host-header validation is off and startup logs a warning, or only an
informational message when the listener is bound to loopback.

```bash
WIREBUDDY_ALLOWED_HOSTS=vpn.example.com,localhost
```

### `FORCE_HTTPS_COOKIES`

Forces the `Secure` attribute on authentication and CSRF cookies even when
HTTPS is not otherwise detected. Secure cookies and HSTS are already enabled
automatically when `WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN` uses `https://`; this override is
only needed for edge cases such as a TLS-terminating load balancer without a
configured public origin.

Default: disabled (except when derived from `WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN`).

!!! note
    Not needed when **Settings → General → Serve GUI over HTTPS** is enabled.
    WireBuddy then terminates TLS itself, so the request scheme is already
    `https` and cookies are marked `Secure` without an override. See
    [Built-in HTTPS Listener](security.md#built-in-https-listener).

### `WIREBUDDY_FORCE_HSTS`

Always emits HSTS even when TLS terminates at a proxy and the upstream request
appears as HTTP.

Default: disabled. HSTS is otherwise emitted automatically when
`WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN` uses `https://`, or when the request is detected as
HTTPS.

## Passkeys

### `PASSKEY_RP_ID`

Optional WebAuthn relying-party ID override. Derived automatically from
`WIREBUDDY_PUBLIC_ORIGIN` when unset; falls back to the request host for
localhost development.

### `PASSKEY_RP_NAME`

WebAuthn relying-party display name. Default: `WireBuddy`.

### `MAX_PASSKEYS_PER_USER`

Maximum registered passkeys per account. Values are clamped to `1`–`100`.

Default: `20`.

## Node Mode

### `WIREBUDDY_ENROLLMENT_TOKEN`

Required for first node enrollment. Create it from the master's **Nodes** page.
The token contains the master URL, node ID, and bootstrap API secret.

### `WIREBUDDY_ENROLLMENT_VERIFY_KEY`

HMAC key used to verify the enrollment token locally. Required for normal
first enrollment and generated alongside the enrollment token.

### `WIREBUDDY_MASTER_CA_FILE`

Optional path to a custom CA file used to verify the master's HTTPS
certificate. System CAs are used when unset.

```bash
WIREBUDDY_MASTER_CA_FILE=/app/data/certs/master-ca.pem
```

### `WIREBUDDY_NODE_SYNC_INTERVAL`

Normal synchronization interval in seconds. Minimum: `5`; default: `30`.

### `WIREBUDDY_NODE_SYNC_INTERVAL_FAST`

Fallback interval while SSE is disconnected. Minimum: `1`; default: `5`.

### `WIREBUDDY_ENROLLMENT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS`

Enrollment retries after transient failures. Minimum: `1`; default: `3`.

### `WIREBUDDY_NO_FIREWALL_FIX`

Disables the node's automatic DNS-related firewall correction when set to
`1`, `true`, or `yes`.

Default: disabled, so the correction is active.

### Node Development Overrides

The following switches weaken enrollment or transport validation and are for
isolated development/migration scenarios only:

- `WIREBUDDY_ALLOW_INSECURE_MASTER_HTTP=1`
- `WIREBUDDY_ALLOW_UNVERIFIED_ENROLLMENT_TOKEN=1`
- `WIREBUDDY_ALLOW_LEGACY_NODE_SECRET=1`

Do not enable them in production.

`WIREBUDDY_MASTER_URL` is not read by the current node daemon; the master URL
is carried in the enrollment token and then persisted in node state.

## GeoIP

GeoIP database paths and download URLs auto-resolve under
`WIREBUDDY_DATA_DIR` with a built-in download source; overriding them is only
needed for air-gapped installs or mirrored downloads.

### `WIREBUDDY_GEOIP_DB_PATH`

Explicit GeoLite2 City database path. Default:
`<WIREBUDDY_DATA_DIR>/geolite2/GeoLite2-City.mmdb`.

### `WIREBUDDY_ASN_DB_PATH`

Explicit GeoLite2 ASN database path. Default:
`<WIREBUDDY_DATA_DIR>/geolite2/GeoLite2-ASN.mmdb`.

### `WIREBUDDY_GEOIP_CITY_DOWNLOAD_URL`

Optional HTTPS download URL for the City database.

### `WIREBUDDY_GEOIP_ASN_DOWNLOAD_URL`

Optional HTTPS download URL for the ASN database.

### `WIREBUDDY_GEOIP_ALLOWED_HOSTS`

Additional comma-separated HTTPS hosts allowed for custom GeoIP URLs and
redirects. The built-in GitHub hosts remain allowed.

### `WIREBUDDY_GEOIP_CACHE_SIZE`

In-memory GeoIP lookup cache size, clamped to `128`–`65536`.

Default: `4096`.

## Security and Runtime Tuning

### `WIREBUDDY_CLEANUP_STALE_INTERFACES`

Opt-in cleanup of active WireBuddy-managed WireGuard interfaces that no longer
have matching configuration files. Disabled by default because cleanup is
destructive.

### `WIREBUDDY_MANAGE_RESOLV_CONF`

Allows WireBuddy to point `/etc/resolv.conf` at its managed Unbound resolver.

Default: disabled.

### `WIREBUDDY_REQUIRE_HTTPS_AUTH`

Opt-in. Set to `true`, `1`, or `yes` to reject authentication over plaintext
HTTP. When enabled, password logins and node bearer/enrollment authentication
are refused unless the request arrives over HTTPS. A single implicit exception
applies to loopback peers, so local HTTP development keeps working.

Default: disabled. With the flag off and the built-in HTTPS listener off,
plaintext authentication is allowed but logs a warning, preserving the
historical behaviour for documented plain-HTTP LAN installs.

This flag is independent of **Settings → General → Serve GUI over HTTPS**:
enabling the built-in HTTPS listener already forces the same rejection, and
this variable additionally enforces it when the listener is off (for example
behind a TLS-terminating reverse proxy). See
[Security Configuration](security.md).

### `WIREBUDDY_RATE_LIMIT_UI_HEAVY`

Rate limit string (`N/second|minute|hour|day`) for expensive UI routes; an invalid value stops startup. Default: `60/minute`.

### Login Lockout Tuning

Login lockouts use three policies. Defaults are:

| Variable | Default |
|---|---:|
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_IP_MIN_FAILURES` | `5` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_IP_BASE_LOCKOUT_SECONDS` | `30` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_IP_MAX_LOCKOUT_SECONDS` | `86400` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_USER_IP_MIN_FAILURES` | `3` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_USER_IP_BASE_LOCKOUT_SECONDS` | `30` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_USER_IP_MAX_LOCKOUT_SECONDS` | `3600` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_USERNAME_MIN_FAILURES` | `20` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_USERNAME_BASE_LOCKOUT_SECONDS` | `60` |
| `WIREBUDDY_LOGIN_USERNAME_MAX_LOCKOUT_SECONDS` | `300` |

These values must be positive integers. Route-level request limits remain
defined by the application.

### `WIREBUDDY_PBKDF2_ITERATIONS`

PBKDF2 work factor used by vault key derivation. Default: `480000`; values are
clamped to `310000`–`2000000`.

Changing this value after encrypted data has been written can prevent existing
vault values from being decrypted. Treat it as an immutable deployment choice.

### `WIREBUDDY_DEPLOYMENT_ID`

Optional deployment-specific vault derivation context. Changing or removing it
after encrypted values exist makes those values unreadable.

### `WIREBUDDY_RUNTIME_DIR`

Directory for the process banner lock. Default: `/run/wirebuddy`.

## Development and CI

### `WIREBUDDY_SKIP_APPLICATION_LOCK`

Set to `1`, `true`, or `yes` to skip the exclusive lock on the data directory.
The lock makes a second control plane on the same data directory fail at
startup. Use this only on a filesystem without `flock` support (some network
filesystems) and only if you can guarantee that a single instance runs;
WireBuddy logs a warning and cannot detect a second instance when it is set.

### `WIREBUDDY_SKIP_NETWORK_CHECK`

Skips Docker host-network verification. Use only in tests or CI; production
Compose does not set it.

### `WIREBUDDY_TEST_MODE` and `WIREBUDDY_MIN_GEOIP_SIZE`

Relax GeoIP fixture size checks for tests. They are not production settings
and should only be set by the test suite itself, never in `.env`.

### `TESTING`

Used by test helpers and passkey test paths. Do not enable in production.

## Settings Managed in the UI

The following are database settings, not environment variables:

- GUI port and localhost-only binding (unless overridden by
  `WIREBUDDY_PORT`/`WIREBUDDY_HOST` in Docker)
- Swagger enablement
- public status-page enablement
- WireGuard, DNS, speed-test, backup, and retention settings

Variables such as `SWAGGER_ENABLED`, `SESSION_COOKIE_*`, `RATELIMIT_*`,
`CORS_ORIGINS`, `HOST`, `PORT`, and `WORKERS` are not read by the current
application.

## Precedence

### Local `python run.py`

1. Existing process environment
2. Root `.env`
3. Compatibility `settings.env`
4. Application defaults and database settings

### Docker Compose

1. Compose `environment` entries
2. Values interpolated from the file supplied with `--env-file`
3. Image/entrypoint defaults and database settings

## Verifying Effective Configuration

```bash
docker compose --env-file .env -f docker/docker-compose.yml config
docker compose --env-file .env -f docker/docker-compose.yml exec wirebuddy env | sort
```

Be careful when sharing this output because it contains the secret key and
possibly enrollment credentials.

## Related

- [Docker Setup](../getting-started/docker.md)
- [Security Configuration](security.md)
- [Multi-Node Deployment](../features/multi-node.md)