Adjust file realm docs (#52471) (#52745)

The existing wording in the file realm docs proved confusing
for users as it seemed to indicate that it should _only_ be
used as a fallback/recovery realm and that it is not a
first class realm.

This change attempts to clarify this and point out that recovery
is _a_ use case for the file realm but not the only intended one.
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Ioannis Kakavas 2020-02-25 11:59:13 +02:00 committed by GitHub
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1 changed files with 12 additions and 8 deletions

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@ -7,17 +7,21 @@ With the `file` realm, users are defined in local files on each node in the clus
IMPORTANT: As the administrator of the cluster, it is your responsibility to IMPORTANT: As the administrator of the cluster, it is your responsibility to
ensure the same users are defined on every node in the cluster. The {stack} ensure the same users are defined on every node in the cluster. The {stack}
{security-features} do not deliver any mechanism to guarantee this. {security-features} do not deliver any mechanism to guarantee this. You should
also be aware that you cannot add or manage users in the `file` realm via the
<<security-user-apis, user APIs>> and you cannot add or manage them in {kib} on the
*Management / Security / Users* page
The `file` realm is primarily supported to serve as a fallback/recovery realm. It The `file` realm is very useful as a fallback or recovery realm. For example in cases where
is mostly useful in situations where all users locked themselves out of the system the cluster is unresponsive or the security index is unavailable, or when you forget the
(no one remembers their username/password). In this type of scenarios, the `file` password for your administrative users.
realm is your only way out - you can define a new `admin` user in the `file` realm In this type of scenario, the `file` realm is a convenient way out - you can
and use it to log in and reset the credentials of all other users. define a new `admin` user in the `file` realm and use it to log in and reset the
credentials of all other users.
IMPORTANT: When you configure realms in `elasticsearch.yml`, only the realms you IMPORTANT: When you configure realms in `elasticsearch.yml`, only the realms you
specify are used for authentication. To use the `file` realm as a fallback, you specify are used for authentication. To use the `file` realm you must explicitly
must include it in the realm chain. include it in the realm chain.
To define users, the {security-features} provide the To define users, the {security-features} provide the
{ref}/users-command.html[users] command-line tool. This tool enables you to add {ref}/users-command.html[users] command-line tool. This tool enables you to add