Middleware Manager v2.0.0 Release Documentation

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Overview

We are excited to announce the release of Middleware Manager v2.0.0, which introduces significant architectural improvements and new features, most notably the ability to operate completely independently of Pangolin by connecting directly to the Traefik API.

This major update transforms the Middleware Manager into a versatile tool suitable for any Traefik deployment, whether as part of the Pangolin stack or as a standalone service with any Traefik instance.

Key New Features

Dual Data Source Architecture

Traefik API Integration: Connect directly to Traefik's API without requiring Pangolin
Runtime Switching: Toggle between Pangolin and Traefik data sources through the UI
Connection Testing: Built-in connection testing for both data sources
Auto-Discovery: Attempts to automatically locate Traefik API endpoints

Enhanced Configuration Management

Config.json Support: External configuration file for data source settings
Environment Variable Control: Set the active data source via environment variables
Persistent Settings: Data source configurations are saved across restarts

Improved Router Configuration

Enhanced TCP SNI Routing: Better support for TCP services with custom SNI rules
TLS Certificate Management: Configure additional Subject Alternative Names (SANs)
Router Priority Management: Control precedence when multiple routers match
Custom Headers Configuration: Add custom headers to backend service requests

User Interface Improvements

Dark Mode Support: Toggle between light and dark themes
Data Source Settings Panel: Manage connections through a dedicated UI
Connection Status Indicators: Visual feedback for data source connectivity
Improved Error Messages: Better troubleshooting information

Breaking Changes

Default File Paths: The default file paths for configuration have changed. If you used custom paths, you may need to update your volume mappings.
Router IDs: The format of router IDs generated by the Middleware Manager has changed. This will not affect existing setups but may impact any scripts or tools that interact with the generated configuration files.

Upgrade Instructions

Docker Compose

Update your docker-compose.yml file:

middleware-manager:
  image: hhftechnology/middleware-manager:latest  # No change to image reference
  container_name: middleware-manager
  restart: unless-stopped
  volumes:
    - ./data:/data
    - ./config/traefik/rules:/conf
    - ./config/middleware-manager/templates.yaml:/app/config/templates.yaml  # Optional
    - ./config/middleware-manager/config.json:/app/config/config.json  # New volume for config
  environment:
    - PANGOLIN_API_URL=http://pangolin:3001/api/v1
    - TRAEFIK_API_URL=http://traefik:8080  # New environment variable
    - TRAEFIK_CONF_DIR=/conf
    - DB_PATH=/data/middleware.db
    - PORT=3456
    # Optional: Set default data source
    # - ACTIVE_DATA_SOURCE=traefik
  ports:
    - "3456:3456"

Manual Installation

Stop your existing Middleware Manager instance
Back up your database and configuration files
Update to the latest version
Create a config.json file if you want to use the Traefik API
Start the Middleware Manager with updated environment variables

Migration Notes

Moving from Pangolin to Standalone Traefik

If you want to use the Middleware Manager with a standalone Traefik instance:

Create a config.json file in your configuration directory:

{
  "active_data_source": "traefik",
  "data_sources": {
    "traefik": {
      "type": "traefik",
      "url": "http://traefik:8080",
      "basic_auth": {
        "username": "",
        "password": ""
      }
    }
  }
}

Update your environment variables to include ACTIVE_DATA_SOURCE=traefik
Ensure your Traefik instance has the API enabled
Start the Middleware Manager and verify the connection in the settings panel

Database Compatibility

The database schema has been updated to support the new features. The Middleware Manager will automatically migrate your existing database on startup.

Fixed Issues

Fixed empty string handling in header middleware configurations
Fixed router priority not being properly applied in generated configurations
Fixed issues with TCP SNI router generation
Improved connection error handling and reporting
Resolved issues with middleware ordering and chaining

Known Issues

When switching between data sources, you may need to refresh the browser to see the updated resource list
Some complex middleware configurations may require manual adjustment
Very large installations may experience performance issues when loading many resources

Contributors

This release would not have been possible without the contributions and feedback from the community. Special thanks to:

The HHF Technology team for leading the development
All users who provided valuable feedback and feature requests
Everyone who helped test the new Traefik API integration

For more information, please visit our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/hhftechnology/middleware-manager) or join our [community forum](https://forum.hhf.technology/).

hhftechnology/middleware-manager v2.0.0 on GitHub