apache/hadoop · error · IOException

createSnapshot: Pathname too long. Limit {} characters, {}

Error message

createSnapshot: Pathname too long.  Limit {} characters, {} levels.

What it means

Error "createSnapshot: Pathname too long. Limit {} characters, {} levels." thrown in apache/hadoop.

Source

Thrown at hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hdfs/server/namenode/NameNodeRpcServer.java:1952

   */
  private String getClientMachine() {
    return NameNode.getClientMachine(this.ipProxyUsers);
  }

  @Override
  public DataEncryptionKey getDataEncryptionKey() throws IOException {
    checkNNStartup();
    return namesystem.getBlockManager().generateDataEncryptionKey();
  }

  @Override
  public String createSnapshot(String snapshotRoot, String snapshotName)
      throws IOException {
    checkNNStartup();
    LOG.debug("*DIR* NameNode.createSnapshot: Path {} and SnapshotName {}",
        snapshotRoot, snapshotName);
    if (!checkPathLength(snapshotRoot)) {
      throw new IOException("createSnapshot: Pathname too long.  Limit "
          + MAX_PATH_LENGTH + " characters, " + MAX_PATH_DEPTH + " levels.");
    }
    namesystem.checkOperation(OperationCategory.WRITE);
    CacheEntryWithPayload cacheEntry = getCacheEntryWithPayload(null);
    if (cacheEntry != null && cacheEntry.isSuccess()) {
      return (String) cacheEntry.getPayload();
    }

    metrics.incrCreateSnapshotOps();
    String ret = null;
    try {
      ret = namesystem.createSnapshot(snapshotRoot, snapshotName,
          cacheEntry != null);
    } finally {
      RetryCache.setState(cacheEntry, ret != null, ret);
    }
    return ret;
  }

View on GitHub (pinned to 2add963021)

Solutions

1. Use a shorter snapshot path/name within configured pathname limits.

When it happens

Trigger: createSnapshot is called with a path exceeding character or depth limits.

Common situations: Creating snapshots on very deep or long directory paths.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/hadoop@2add963021 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/3c9b7dfc83a950e0. Report an issue: GitHub.