# SillyTavern 1.12.0 Migration Guide

SillyTavern 1.12.0 (codename the "Neo Server" update) includes several critical changes that may affect the way you use SillyTavern.

This guide will prepare you for the update and provide some further guidance.

1.12.0 changes the way SillyTavern handles the user data.

Previously, all of the persistent data was stored together with the frontend part in the /public directory, which created confusion and potential points of failure, as well as making containerization and system-wide app installation quite challenging.

All persistent information from /public such as settings and chats (full list below) was moved into a separate directory with the configurable path, making it portable and independent from the web server itself. When needed for compatibility purposes, for example, for hosting extensions, full-size character cards, user image uploads, etc. a smart redirect has been set up to automatically host user files from the data directory.

You can provide either an absolute or a relative (to the ST repository directory) path to the data root either by config.yaml or by starting the server with the --dataRoot console argument.

YAML example

# -- DATA CONFIGURATION --
# Root directory for user data storage
dataRoot: C:\Users\Harry\Documents\ST-Data

Console example

node server.js --dataRoot="/Users/harry/ST-Data"
# OR
npm run start -- --dataRoot="/Users/harry/ST-Data"

The default data root path is ./data, which means the data directory in SillyTavern's repository.

1. Set the data root before first running the server after pulling an update. Run npm install for the config.yaml to populate with a new value, or pass a console argument.
2. All data will be migrated into a default-user account. See more on Users below.

You don't have to do anything! An automatic migration should handle everything for you when you start the ST server and it detects the old storage format (by checking the existence of the /public/characters directory).

Upon moving any files, an automatic backup will be created in the /backups/_migration/YYYY-MM-DD (resolved to the current date) directory, but it is always a good practice to make a full manual backup before running the migration.

Migrating the data in Docker volumes is a bit trickier but pretty straightforward. While docker-compose.yml provided with the repo was updated to reflect the changes, you may need to adjust your custom workflows/deployments.

Step 1. Create a new volume, and mount it to the "/home/node/app/data" path within the container. Don't remove the config volume.

volumes:
    - "./config:/home/node/app/config"
    - "./data:/home/node/app/data"

Step 2. Move everything but the config.yaml file from the config volume into the default-user subdirectory of the data volume.

Step 3. Rebuild the container and start it up.

The following files and directories are subject to the data migration. Assuming the default configuration, the before and after paths are provided in the table below.

1.12.0 adds a (completely optional) ability to create a multi-user setup on the same server, allowing multiple users to use their own fully isolated SillyTavern instances even at the same time. User accounts can also be password-protected for an additional layer of privacy.

While we tried to apply most of the well-known security practices, this still doesn't make the SillyTavern server secure enough to expose it to the public internet.

To enable and use the multi-user mode, edit the config.yaml file:

# Enable multi-user mode
enableUserAccounts: true
# Enable discreet login mode: hides user list on the login screen
enableDiscreetLogin: true

1. When the user account setting is disabled, a default-user fallback admin account is utilized for storing the user data.
2. When the discreet login setting is disabled, a list of active users is displayed on the login screen. If enabled, a user must enter their handle manually.

You can't delete the default-user account from the users list because it is used for serving the user data in case if enableUserAccounts is set to false. But you can disable it to hide it from the list and disallow logins.

A handle is the unique identifier of a user. It can consist only of lowercase letters, numbers, and dashes.

A path to the user data directory assumes using the following pattern: %DATA_ROOT%/%USER_HANDLE%.

Examples of valid user handles:

• default-user
• juan555
• flux-the-cat
• cool-guy1337

• Admin - can manage (create, delete, modify) other users.
• User - can't manage other users.

Except for having admin panel access, both user roles are functionally identical and can use a full range of SillyTavern features without any restrictions. An implementation of user permissions is TBD.

All user accounts are created as regular users first, and then could be promoted to admins if needed.

There you can select a user account to use. Has two styles, depending on the enableDiscreetLogin config value.

The login screen is bypassed and not displayed when you have only one active user and it is not password protected.

You can access an account self-management menu using an "Account" button under the "User settings" panel in the top menu bar.

1. Display name - used in the login screen, can be changed. Does not correlate with personas and is not visible for the AI APIs - you can still use as many personas as you want.
2. Profile picture - used in the login screen. You can either use a custom picture, the default persona picture (if set), or the last used persona otherwise.
3. Password - a lock icon reflects the account protection status (open lock = no password). A password can be set, changed, or removed using the "Change Password" button.
4. Settings Snapshots - access and review the backups of your settings.json file, with the ability to create or restore snapshots.
5. Download Backup - download an archive of your user data folder.
6. Reset Settings - reset factory default settings, while leaving other data (character, chats) intact.

1. A password can be recovered from a login screen. You need access to the server console to get a one-time recovery code (consisting of 4 digits).
2. Alternatively, you can use a utility script in the SillyTavern server to reset a password by providing the user handle.

Usage: node recover.js [account] (password)
Example: node recover.js admin SecurePassword

This is just a recommendation. Please consult a web application security specialist before making your ST instance live.

1. Keep your operating system and runtime software like Node.js updated. This will ensure that your system is up-to-date with the latest security patches and fixes which can help prevent potential vulnerabilities.
2. Use a whitelist and a network firewall. Only allow trusted IP ranges to access the server.
3. Enable basic authentication. It acts as a "master password" before you can proceed to the front-end app.
4. Alternatively, configure external authentication. Some known services for that are Authelia and authentik.
5. Never leave admin accounts passwordless. A server will warn you upon the startup if you have any unprotected admin accounts.
6. Use the discreet login setting outside of the local network. This will hide the user list from any potential outsiders.
7. Check the access logs often. They are written to the server console and the access.log file and provide information on incoming connections, such as IP address and user agent.
8. Configure HTTPS. For a localhost server, you can generate and use a self-signed certificate. Otherwise, you may need to deploy a proxying web server like Traefik or Caddy.

Find more on secure proxying in the following guide: Reverse Proxying SillyTavern