Files
neo/docs/CENTRAL_LOGIN.md
2026-01-05 07:48:22 +01:00

131 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown

# Central Admin Login
## Overview
The platform supports seamless authentication for both **tenant users** and **central administrators** using the same login endpoint. The system automatically determines which database to authenticate against based on the subdomain.
## How It Works
### Subdomain-Based Routing
The authentication flow uses subdomain detection to determine the authentication context:
1. **Central Subdomains** (e.g., `central.yourdomain.com`, `admin.yourdomain.com`)
- Authenticates against the **central database**
- Used for platform administrators
- Configured via `CENTRAL_SUBDOMAINS` environment variable
2. **Tenant Subdomains** (e.g., `acme.yourdomain.com`, `client1.yourdomain.com`)
- Authenticates against the **tenant's database**
- Used for regular tenant users
- Each tenant has its own isolated database
### Configuration
Set the central subdomains in your `.env` file:
```bash
# Comma-separated list of subdomains that access the central database
CENTRAL_SUBDOMAINS="central,admin"
```
### Implementation Details
#### 1. Tenant Middleware (`tenant.middleware.ts`)
The middleware extracts the subdomain from the request and:
- Checks if it matches a central subdomain
- If yes: Skips tenant resolution and attaches subdomain to request
- If no: Resolves the tenant ID from the subdomain and attaches it to request
#### 2. Auth Service (`auth.service.ts`)
The auth service has branching logic in `validateUser()` and `register()`:
- Checks if the subdomain is in the central list
- Routes to `validateCentralUser()` or normal tenant user validation
- Central users are authenticated against the `central` database
- Tenant users are authenticated against their tenant's database
#### 3. Auth Controller (`auth.controller.ts`)
The controller:
- Extracts subdomain from the request
- Validates tenant ID requirement (not needed for central subdomains)
- Passes subdomain to auth service for proper routing
## Usage
### Creating a Central Admin User
```bash
cd backend
npm run create-central-admin
```
Follow the prompts to enter:
- Email
- Password
- First Name (optional)
- Last Name (optional)
### Logging In as Central Admin
1. Navigate to `central.yourdomain.com` (or whatever central subdomain you configured)
2. Enter your central admin email and password
3. You'll be authenticated against the central database
**No special UI elements needed** - the system automatically detects the subdomain!
### Logging In as Tenant User
1. Navigate to `yourtenantslug.yourdomain.com`
2. Enter your tenant user credentials
3. You'll be authenticated against that tenant's database
## Architecture Benefits
**Transparent to Frontend** - No need for special "login as admin" checkboxes or UI elements
**Secure** - Central and tenant authentication are completely separated
**Scalable** - Easy to add more central subdomains by updating environment variable
**Clean Code** - Single auth controller/service with clear branching logic
**Flexible** - Can be used for both development (localhost) and production
## Local Development
For local development, you can:
1. **Use subdomain on localhost:**
```
central.localhost:3000
acme.localhost:3000
```
2. **Use x-tenant-id header** (for tenant-specific requests):
```bash
curl -H "x-tenant-id: acme-corp" http://localhost:3000/api/auth/login
```
3. **For central admin, use central subdomain:**
```bash
curl http://central.localhost:3000/api/auth/login
```
## Database Schema
### Central Database (`User` model)
- Stores platform administrators
- Prisma schema: `schema-central.prisma`
- Fields: id, email, password, firstName, lastName, isActive, createdAt, updatedAt
### Tenant Database (`users` table)
- Stores tenant-specific users
- Knex migrations: `migrations/tenant/`
- Fields: id, email, password, firstName, lastName, isActive, created_at, updated_at
## Security Considerations
- Central admin credentials are never stored in tenant databases
- Tenant user credentials are never stored in the central database
- JWT tokens include user context (tenant ID or central admin flag)
- Subdomain validation prevents unauthorized access