Node.js connection issue with latest MySQL 8.0: Authentication protocol mismatch

Other Questions MySQL
1

I’m having trouble connecting to my MySQL server from Node.js. I’ve got the newest MySQL Community 8.0 and Node.js installed with default settings, but something’s not working right.

Here’s my Node.js code:

const db = require('mysql');

const connection = db.createConnection({
  host: 'localhost',
  user: 'admin',
  password: 'secretpass',
  insecureAuth: true
});

connection.connect((error) => {
  if (error) {
    console.error('Connection failed:', error);
  } else {
    console.log('Successfully connected!');
  }
});

When I run this, I get an error saying the client doesn’t support the authentication protocol the server wants. It suggests upgrading the MySQL client.

I’ve looked at some docs and GitHub issues about this, but I’m still stuck. Any ideas on how to fix this? Is there a way to make Node.js work with MySQL 8.0’s new auth system?

2

I’ve encountered this issue in production environments. One effective solution is to use the ‘mysql2’ package instead of ‘mysql’. It’s more robust and supports the latest MySQL authentication protocols out of the box. Here’s how you can modify your code:

const mysql = require('mysql2');

const connection = mysql.createConnection({
  host: 'localhost',
  user: 'admin',
  password: 'secretpass'
});

This approach often resolves the authentication protocol mismatch without needing to alter your MySQL server configuration. If you’re still facing issues, ensure your MySQL server allows connections from your application’s IP address and that your firewall isn’t blocking the connection. Reviewing server logs can also provide helpful insights for troubleshooting.

3

yo, i ran into this headache too! what worked 4 me was upgrading the mysql package in node.js. run npm install mysql2 and switch ur code to use mysql2 instead. it handles the new auth protocol better. if that don’t cut it, try changing the mysql user auth like others said. good luck!

4

hey there, i had this issue too. try adding authPlugin: 'mysql_native_password' to ur connection options. also, on mysql server side, run ALTER USER 'admin'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'secretpass'; this should fix it. hope it helps!

5

I encountered a similar issue when upgrading to MySQL 8.0. The root cause is the new default authentication method in MySQL 8.0, which isn’t compatible with older Node.js mysql drivers. To resolve this, you have two options:

  1. Update your Node.js mysql package to the latest version that supports the new authentication protocol.

  2. Alternatively, you can modify your MySQL server configuration to use the older authentication method. In your MySQL server, execute:

ALTER USER ‘admin’@‘localhost’ IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY ‘secretpass’;

Then, flush privileges:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

This reverts the authentication method for your user to the older, compatible one. Remember to restart your MySQL service after making these changes.

Always ensure you’re using the latest stable versions of both MySQL and Node.js packages for optimal compatibility and security.

6

I’ve dealt with this challenge too, and it definitely takes some trial and error. My solution was to update the Node.js mysql package first because the newer versions have improved compatibility with MySQL 8.0. When that didn’t completely resolve the issue, I switched the connection code to explicitly specify the auth plugin:

const connection = db.createConnection({
  host: 'localhost',
  user: 'admin',
  password: 'secretpass',
  authPlugin: 'caching_sha2_password'
});

This change made a difference. In cases where problems still persist, it might be worth setting up a dedicated user with the older authentication method. Keeping everything updated and referring to official docs usually helps steer you in the right direction.