InfluxDB error messages

This page documents errors, their descriptions, and, where applicable,common resolutions.

Disclaimer: This document does not contain an exhaustive list of all possible InfluxDB errors.

error: database name required

The database name required error occurs when certain SHOW queries donot specify a database.Specify a database with an ON clause in the SHOW query, with USE <database_name> in theCLI, or with the db query string parameter inthe InfluxDB API request.

The relevant SHOW queries include SHOW RETENTION POLICIES, SHOW SERIES,SHOW MEASUREMENTS, SHOW TAG KEYS, SHOW TAG VALUES, and SHOW FIELD KEYS.

Resources:Schema exploration,InfluxQL reference

error: max series per database exceeded: < >

The max series per database exceeded error occurs when a write causes thenumber of series in a database toexceed the maximum allowable series per database.The maximum allowable series per database is controlled by themax-series-per-database setting in the [data] section of the configurationfile.

The information in the < > shows the measurement and the tag set of the seriesthat exceeded max-series-per-database.

By default max-series-per-database is set to one million.Changing the setting to 0 allows an unlimited number of series per database.

Resources:Database Configuration

error parsing query: found < >, expected identifier at line < >, char < >

InfluxQL syntax

The expected identifier error occurs when InfluxDB anticipates an identifierin a query but doesn’t find it.Identifiers are tokens that refer to continuous query names, database names,field keys, measurement names, retention policy names, subscription names,tag keys, and user names.The error is often a gentle reminder to double-check your query’s syntax.

Examples

Query 1:

  1. > CREATE CONTINUOUS QUERY ON "telegraf" BEGIN SELECT mean("usage_idle") INTO "average_cpu" FROM "cpu" GROUP BY time(1h),"cpu" END
  2. ERR: error parsing query: found ON, expected identifier at line 1, char 25

Query 1 is missing a continuous query name between CREATE CONTINUOUS QUERY andON.

Query 2:

  1. > SELECT * FROM WHERE "blue" = true
  2. ERR: error parsing query: found WHERE, expected identifier at line 1, char 15

Query 2 is missing a measurement name between FROM and WHERE.

InfluxQL keywords

In some cases the expected identifier error occurs when one of theidentifiers in the query is anInfluxQL Keyword.To successfully query an identifier that’s also a keyword, enclose thatidentifier in double quotes.

Examples

Query 1:

  1. > SELECT duration FROM runs
  2. ERR: error parsing query: found DURATION, expected identifier, string, number, bool at line 1, char 8

In Query 1, the field key duration is an InfluxQL Keyword.Double quote duration to avoid the error:

  1. > SELECT "duration" FROM runs

Query 2:

  1. > CREATE RETENTION POLICY limit ON telegraf DURATION 1d REPLICATION 1
  2. ERR: error parsing query: found LIMIT, expected identifier at line 1, char 25

In Query 2, the retention policy name limit is an InfluxQL Keyword.Double quote limit to avoid the error:

  1. > CREATE RETENTION POLICY "limit" ON telegraf DURATION 1d REPLICATION 1

While using double quotes is an acceptable workaround, we recommend that you avoid using InfluxQL keywords as identifiers for simplicity’s sake.

Resources:InfluxQL Keywords,Query Language Documentation

error parsing query: found < >, expected string at line < >, char < >

The expected string error occurs when InfluxDB anticipates a stringbut doesn’t find it.In most cases, the error is a result of forgetting to quote the passwordstring in the CREATE USER statement.

Example

  1. > CREATE USER penelope WITH PASSWORD timeseries4dayz
  2. ERR: error parsing query: found timeseries4dayz, expected string at line 1, char 36

The CREATE USER statement requires single quotation marks around the passwordstring:

  1. > CREATE USER penelope WITH PASSWORD 'timeseries4dayz'

Note that you should not include the single quotes when authenticating requests.

Resources:Authentication and Authorization

error parsing query: mixing aggregate and non-aggregate queries is not supported

The mixing aggregate and non-aggregate error occurs when a SELECT statementincludes both an aggregate functionand a standalone field key ortag key.

Aggregate functions return a single calculated value and there is no obvioussingle value to return for any unaggregated fields or tags.

Example

Raw data:

The peg measurement has two fields (square and round) and one tag(force):

  1. name: peg

time square round force2016-10-07T18:50:00Z 2 8 12016-10-07T18:50:10Z 4 12 22016-10-07T18:50:20Z 6 14 42016-10-07T18:50:30Z 7 15 3

Query 1:

  1. > SELECT mean("square"),"round" FROM "peg"
  2. ERR: error parsing query: mixing aggregate and non-aggregate queries is not supported

Query 1 includes an aggregate function and a standalone field.

mean("square") returns a single aggregated value calculated from the four valuesof square in the peg measurement, and there is no obvious single field valueto return from the four unaggregated values of the round field.

Query 2:

  1. > SELECT mean("square"),"force" FROM "peg"
  2. ERR: error parsing query: mixing aggregate and non-aggregate queries is not supported

Query 2 includes an aggregate function and a standalone tag.

mean("square") returns a single aggregated value calculated from the four valuesof square in the peg measurement, and there is no obvious single tag valueto return from the four unaggregated values of the force tag.

Resources:Functions

invalid operation: time and *influxql.VarRef are not compatible

The time and *influxql.VarRef are not compatible error occurs whendate-time strings are double quoted in queries.Date-time strings require single quotes.

Examples

Double quoted date-time strings:

  1. > SELECT "water_level" FROM "h2o_feet" WHERE "location" = 'santa_monica' AND time >= "2015-08-18T00:00:00Z" AND time <= "2015-08-18T00:12:00Z"
  2. ERR: invalid operation: time and *influxql.VarRef are not compatible

Single quoted date-time strings:

  1. > SELECT "water_level" FROM "h2o_feet" WHERE "location" = 'santa_monica' AND time >= '2015-08-18T00:00:00Z' AND time <= '2015-08-18T00:12:00Z'
  3. name: h2o_feet
  4. time                   water_level
  5. ----                   -----------
  6. 2015-08-18T00:00:00Z   2.064
  7. 2015-08-18T00:06:00Z   2.116
  8. 2015-08-18T00:12:00Z   2.028

Resources:Data Exploration

unable to parse < >: bad timestamp

Timestamp syntax

The bad timestamp error occurs when theline protocol includes atimestamp in a format other than a UNIX timestamp.

Example

  1. > INSERT pineapple value=1 '2015-08-18T23:00:00Z'
  2. ERR: {"error":"unable to parse 'pineapple value=1 '2015-08-18T23:00:00Z'': bad timestamp"}

The line protocol above uses an RFC3339timestamp.Replace the timestamp with a UNIX timestamp to avoid the error and successfullywrite the point to InfluxDB:

  1. > INSERT pineapple,fresh=true value=1 1439938800000000000

InfluxDB line protocol syntax

In some cases, the bad timestamp error occurs with more general syntax errorsin the InfluxDB line protocol.Line protocol is whitespace sensitive; misplaced spaces can cause InfluxDBto assume that a field or tag is an invalid timestamp.

Example

Write 1

  1. > INSERT hens location=2 value=9
  2. ERR: {"error":"unable to parse 'hens location=2 value=9': bad timestamp"}

The line protocol in Write 1 separates the hen measurement from the location=2tag with a space instead of a comma.InfluxDB assumes that the value=9 field is the timestamp and returns an error.

Use a comma instead of a space between the measurement and tag to avoid the error:

  1. > INSERT hens,location=2 value=9

Write 2

  1. > INSERT cows,name=daisy milk_prod=3 happy=3
  2. ERR: {"error":"unable to parse 'cows,name=daisy milk_prod=3 happy=3': bad timestamp"}

The line protocol in Write 2 separates the milk_prod=3 field and thehappy=3 field with a space instead of a comma.InfluxDB assumes that the happy=3 field is the timestamp and returns an error.

Use a comma instead of a space between the two fields to avoid the error:

  1. > INSERT cows,name=daisy milk_prod=3,happy=3

Resources:InfluxDB line protocol tutorial,InfluxDB line protocol reference

unable to parse < >: time outside range

The time outside range error occurs when the timestamp in theInfluxDB line protocolfalls outside the valid time range for InfluxDB.

The minimum valid timestamp is -9223372036854775806 or 1677-09-21T00:12:43.145224194Z.The maximum valid timestamp is 9223372036854775806 or 2262-04-11T23:47:16.854775806Z.

Resources:InfluxDB line protocol tutorial,InfluxDB line protocol reference

write failed for shard < >: engine: cache maximum memory size exceeded

The cache maximum memory size exceeded error occurs when the cachedmemory size increases beyond thecache-max-memory-size settingin the configuration file.

By default, cache-max-memory-size is set to 512mb.This value is fine for most workloads, but is too small for larger write volumesor for datasets with higher series cardinality.If you have lots of RAM you could set it to 0 to disable the cached memorylimit and never get this error.You can also examine the memBytes field in thecache measurement in the_internal databaseto get a sense of how big the caches are in memory.

Resources:Database Configuration

already killed

The already killed error occurs when a query has already been killed, butthere are subsequent kill attempts before the query has exited.When a query is killed, it may not exit immediately.It will be in the killed state, which means the signal has been sent, but thequery itself has not hit an interrupt point.

Resources:Query management

Common -import errors

Find common errors that occur when importing data in the command line interface (CLI).

  • (Optional) Customize how to view -import errors and output by running any of the following commands:

    • Send errors and output to a new file: influx -import -path={import-file}.gz -compressed {new-file} 2>&1
    • Send errors and output to separate files: influx -import -path={import-file}.gz -compressed > {output-file} 2> {error-file}
    • Send errors to a new file: influx -import -path={import-file}.gz -compressed 2> {new-file}
    • Send output to a new file: influx -import -path={import-file}.gz -compressed {new-file}

  • Review import errors for possible causes to resolve:

Note: To learn how to use the -import command, see Import data from a file with -import.

Inconsistent data types

Error: partial write: field type conflict:

This error occurs when fields in an imported measurement have inconsistent data types. Make sure all fields in a measurement have the same data type, such as float64, int64, and so on.

Data points older than retention policy

Error: partial write: points beyond retention policy dropped={number-of-points-dropped}

This error occurs when an imported data point is older than the specified retention policy and dropped. Verify the correct retention policy is specified in the import file.

Unnamed import file

Error: reading standard input: /path/to/directory: is a directory

This error occurs when the -import command doesn’t include the name of an import file. Specify the file to import, for example: $ influx -import -path={filename}.txt -precision=s

Docker container cannot read host files

Error: open /path/to/file: no such file or directory

This error occurs when the Docker container cannot read files on the host machine. To make host machine files readable, complete the following procedure.

Make host machine files readable to Docker

  • Create a directory, and then copy files to import into InfluxDB to this directory.
  • When you launch the Docker container, mount the new directory on the InfluxDB container by running the following command:
  1. docker run -v /dir/path/on/host:/dir/path/in/container
  • Verify the Docker container can read host machine files by running the following command:
  1. influx -import -path=/path/in/container