livesync requires Admin CouchDB user?

[xtiansimon]

I already have a running Debian project server, so I decided to install CouchDB manually. Following steps in this process, it seemed reasonable to crate a non-Admin user for CouchDB.

Meanwhile, back in livesync, I can connect with a non-Admin, but I'm unable to Validate. Nothing was syncing. After I changed to the Admin, Validation passed. Ok. I thought I might be able to change back to non-Admin after Validation, but now the credentials are non-editable.

livesync requires Admin CouchDB user?

[pastacolsugo]

Hello, currently following the same path and I have the same question!

I have noticed the plugin sends a DELETE request that fails w/ 401 Unauthorized (the user is not admin).
In the console I get:

👈🏼 console contents

prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:47->OneShot Sync begin... (sync)
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:47->Database closed for reset Database.
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:47->Opening Database...
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:47->Database is now ready.
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:47->Local Database Reset
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Database closed (by close)
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleLocalDatabaseObsidian]  Waiting for ready...
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Opening Database...
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Database is now ready.
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Initializing
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  Initialize and checking database files
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  Checking deleted files
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  Synchronising...
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  UPDATE DATABASE
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  UPDATE STORAGE: Nothing to do
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  SYNC DATABASE AND STORAGE: Nothing to do
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Chunks saved (with fixed): doc: Welcome.md ,chunks: 3 (new:3, recycled:0, cached:0)
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleDatabaseFileAccess]  STORAGE -> DB (plain) Welcome.md
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->UPDATE DATABASE: DONE:1, FAILED:0, LAST:0
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->[ModuleInitializerFile]  Initialized, NOW TRACKING!
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Initialize done!
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->UPDATE DATABASE All done: DONE:1, FAILED:0
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Lock remote database to prevent data corruption
     
       DELETE https://<mydomain>/<mysubdomain>/<mydb> 401 (Unauthorized)
fetch @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
ourFetch @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
fetchJSON @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
HttpPouch.api._destroy @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
destroyDb @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
tryResetRemoteDatabase @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
await in tryResetRemoteDatabase
$$tryResetRemoteDatabase @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
rebuildEverything @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
await in rebuildEverything
$rebuildEverything @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
setupWizard @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
await in setupWizard
command_openSetupURI @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
await in command_openSetupURI
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
fireAndForget @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
onEvent @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
emitEvent @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
eval @ plugin:obsidian-livesync:6
(anonymous) @ app.js:1
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->Something happened on Remote Database Destroy:
prova-f3077eee770358d1:10/02/2025, 22:20:48->{
  "error": "unauthorized",
  "reason": "You are not a server admin.",
  "status": 401,
  "name": "unauthorized",
  "message": "You are not a server admin.",
  "stack": "Error\n    at generateErrorFromResponse (plugin:obsidian-livesync:6:1373515)\n    at fetchJSON (plugin:obsidian-livesync:6:1523091)\n    at async HttpPouch.api._destroy (plugin:obsidian-livesync:6:1536292)"
}

Which looks like it's trying to delete the db, just after saying it's locking it to prevent data corruption.
For context, I set up CouchDB and I selected Initialize new server data.

Does livesync require the user to be server admin?
If it does, which it seems to be the case, why?

Hoping this conversation can lead to improving this nice piece of FOSS,
Thanks!

PS: the documentation for self hosting is quite not up to date, once I get my setup to run correctly I'd like to update it.