FAIL: Update from 1.16.2 to 1.17.1 broken (Ubuntu 18.04.5/node 14.15.3/npm 7.5.4)

[tecy]

Hi all,
I updated from nodeBB 1.16.2 to 1.17.1 as I always do, after this doc:

• https://docs.nodebb.org/configuring/upgrade/

When I type ./nodebb upgrade in the nodebb folder I get the following error:

npm ERR! code 1
npm ERR! path /opt/nodebb/node_modules/sharp
npm ERR! command failed
npm ERR! command sh -c (node install/libvips && node install/dll-copy && prebuild-install) || (node install/can-compile && node-gyp rebuild && node install/dll-copy)
npm ERR! sharp: Are you trying to install as a root or sudo user? Try again with the --unsafe-perm flag
npm ERR! sharp: Please see https://sharp.pixelplumbing.com/install for required dependencies
npm ERR! sharp: Installation error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/root/.npm'

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR!     /root/.npm/_logs/2021-06-05T15_15_57_043Z-debug.log
Error installing dependencies!
message: Command failed: npm install --production
stdout: null
stderr: null
/opt/nodebb/src/cli/package-install.js:81
                throw e;
                ^

Error: Command failed: npm install --production
    at checkExecSyncError (child_process.js:616:11)
    at Object.execSync (child_process.js:652:15)
    at Object.installAll (/opt/nodebb/src/cli/package-install.js:72:9)
    at Object.<anonymous> (/opt/nodebb/src/cli/index.js:62:18)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1063:30)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1092:10)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:928:32)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:769:14)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:952:19)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:88:18) {
  status: 1,
  signal: null,
  output: [ null, null, null ],
  pid: 27482,
  stdout: null,
  stderr: null
}

As I understan, the module sharp is missiong.
I installed it with: npm install sharp --unsafe-perm
Same error as mentioned before.

I also see this: Installation error: EACCES: permission denied, mkdir '/root/.npm'

But this seems to be nonsense by this two means:

• The folder already exists with drwxrwxr-x 297 root root
• and it is writable AND executable by root ...

So what the heck is going on here?
What did I miss?
Could anybody please point me into the right direction?

[tecy]

Hi guys,

its me again
I am just answering my own question to myself.

Update should not be done by the root user, but with the user you installed nodeBB.

NodeBB Upgrade Complete!

Its that damn easy!
Have a great day!

[tecy]

BTW. npm audit give me whole bunch of so called "security issues".
No, now just one ...

npm audit fix could not fix these - so how can that be fiexed?
*puzzled*

$ npm audit
# npm audit report

bootbox  *
Severity: moderate
Cross-Site Scripting - https://npmjs.com/advisories/882
No fix available
node_modules/bootbox

1 moderate severity vulnerability

Some issues need review, and may require choosing
a different dependency.

Anyone knows what to do here?