Recovery Steps to Start RabbitMQ Service After Using an Incompatible Erlang Version

Products

• RabbitMQ
• VMware Tanzu RabbitMQ

Issue/Introduction

Using incompatible versions of Erlang and RabbitMQ can lead to various issues, primarily impacting installation, stability, and clustering functionality.:

Environment

All supported RabbitMQ versions

Cause

Potential Issues caused by using Incompatible Erlang and RabbitMQ Versions

1. RabbitMQ Service Fails to Start
2. Clustering and High-Availability Issues
3. Queue and Message Processing Failures
4. Management and CLI Tool Failures
5. Performance Degradation
6. Data Corruption or Loss
7. Inability to Upgrade or Downgrade

Resolution

High-Level Recovery Steps After Using an Incompatible Erlang Version for RabbitMQ

1. Stop RabbitMQ Service

        Note:  If the service is already stopped or fails to stop, proceed to the next step 

2. Uninstall RabbitMQ and an Incompatible Erlang version
3. Remove Residual Files

     Note: Deleting the Mnesia database (/var/lib/rabbitmq/mnesia/) will erase all queue and exchange data. Back up critical data if needed before proceeding.

4. Reboot the System

        Note: Wait for the system to fully restart before proceeding.

5. Install a Compatible Erlang Version
6. Reinstall RabbitMQ
7. Start RabbitMQ Service

Important Notes:

• Backup: Before making changes, consider backing up your RabbitMQ configuration and data directories to prevent data loss.
• Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary administrative privileges to install and modify software on your system.
• Firewall: Check if your firewall or antivirus is blocking RabbitMQ's ports (e.g., 5672 and 15672). 

In cases of persistent issues, you might need to investigate specific error messages and consult the RabbitMQ documentation

Additional Information

References

Erlang Version Requirements

Upgrading RabbitMQ