nginx and the auth_pam module

I got the task of adding ldap authentication to our puppet nginx module.

Oh shit.

After messing with the fucked up unintuitive package build system we have, to make it build nginx with the auth_pam module, I think I’m set and create an “nginx” auth file in pam.d and cross my fingers the shit is working… ITS NOT!

No problem I think as I head for my trusty nginx logs and access.log. Surely they will say something about why auth(.log)entication and nginx(.log) don’t work together? No! TOUGH FUCKING LUCK.

So I look at the nginx auth_pam module for clues. Turns out it does log some basic debugging through nginx debug log. Ah, i just have to enable debug logging in nginx. Easy peasy, we got that covered. NO! NOT THAT FUCKING EASY.

YOU HAVE TO RECOMPILE NGINX TO ENABLE DEBUG LOGGING

WHAT THE FUCK

WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK