neo4j-shell can not connect to neo4j Server - neo4j

Question

I'm using docker version of neo4j (v3.1.0) and I'm having difficulties connecting to neo4j server using neo4j-shell.
After running an instance of neo4r:3.1.0 docker, I run a bash inside the container:
$ docker exec -it neo4j /bin/bash
And from there I try to run the neo4j-shell like this:
/var/lib/neo4j/bin/neo4j-shell
But it errors:
$ /var/lib/neo4j/bin/neo4j-shell
ERROR (-v for expanded information):
Connection refused
-host Domain name or IP of host to connect to (default: localhost)
-port Port of host to connect to (default: 1337)
-name RMI name, i.e. rmi://<host>:<port>/<name> (default: shell)
-pid Process ID to connect to
-c Command line to execute. After executing it the shell exits
-file File containing commands to execute, or '-' to read from stdin. After executing it the shell exits
-readonly Connect in readonly mode (only for connecting with -path)
-path Points to a neo4j db path so that a local server can be started there
-config Points to a config file when starting a local server
Example arguments for remote:
-port 1337
-host 192.168.1.234 -port 1337 -name shell
-host localhost -readonly
...or no arguments for default values
Example arguments for local:
-path /path/to/db
-path /path/to/db -config /path/to/neo4j.config
-path /path/to/db -readonly
I also tried other hosts like: localhost, 127.0.0.1 and 172.17.0.6 (the container IP). Since it didn't work I tried to list open ports on my container:
$ netstat -l
Active Internet connections (only servers)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address Foreign Address State
tcp 0 0 :::7687 :::* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 :::7473 :::* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 :::7474 :::* LISTEN
Active UNIX domain sockets (only servers)
Proto RefCnt Flags Type State I-Node Path
As you can see there's no 1337 open! I've looked into the config file and the line for specifying port is commented out which means it should be set to its default value (1337).
Can anyone help me connect to neo4j using neo4j-shell?
BTW, the neo4j server is up and running and I can use its web access through port :7474.

Answer 1

In 3.1 it seems the shell is not enabled by default.
You will need to pass your own configuration file with the shell enabled :
Uncomment
# Enable a remote shell server which Neo4j Shell clients can log in to.
dbms.shell.enabled=true
(I find the amount of worker for changing one value in docker quite heavy but yeah..)
Or use the new cypher-shell :
ikwattro#graphaware-team ~> docker ps -a | grep 'neo4j'
34b3c6718504 neo4j:3.1.0 "/docker-entrypoint.s" 2 minutes ago Up 2 minutes 7473-7474/tcp, 7687/tcp compassionate_easley
2395bd0b1fe9 neo4j:3.1.0 "/docker-entrypoint.s" 5 minutes ago Exited (143) 3 minutes ago cranky_goldstine
949feacbc0f9 neo4j:3.1.0 "/docker-entrypoint.s" 5 minutes ago Exited (130) 5 minutes ago modest_boyd
c38572b078de neo4j:3.0.6-enterprise "/docker-entrypoint.s" 6 weeks ago Exited (0) 6 weeks ago fastfishpim_neo4j_1
ikwattro#graphaware-team ~> docker exec --interactive --tty compassionate_easley bin/cypher-shell
username: neo4j
password: *****
Connected to Neo4j 3.1.0 at bolt://localhost:7687 as user neo4j.
Type :help for a list of available commands or :exit to exit the shell.
Note that Cypher queries must end with a semicolon.
neo4j>
NB: Cypher-shell supports begin and commit :
neo4j> :begin
neo4j# create (n:Node);
Added 1 nodes, Added 1 labels
neo4j# :commit;
neo4j>
-
neo4j> :begin
neo4j# create (n:Person {name:"John"});
Added 1 nodes, Set 1 properties, Added 1 labels
neo4j# :rollback
neo4j> :commit
There is no open transaction to commit
neo4j>
http://neo4j.com/docs/operations-manual/current/tools/cypher-shell/