apache/hadoop · error · RuntimeException

Failed to create erasure codec

Error message

Failed to create erasure codec

What it means

Error "Failed to create erasure codec" thrown in apache/hadoop.

Source

Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/CodecUtil.java:246

    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Fail to create raw erasure " +
        "decoder with given codec: " + codecName);
  }

  private static ErasureCodec createCodec(Configuration conf,
      String codecClassName, ErasureCodecOptions options) {
    ErasureCodec codec = null;
    try {
      Class<? extends ErasureCodec> codecClass =
              conf.getClassByName(codecClassName)
              .asSubclass(ErasureCodec.class);
      Constructor<? extends ErasureCodec> constructor
          = codecClass.getConstructor(Configuration.class,
          ErasureCodecOptions.class);
      codec = constructor.newInstance(conf, options);
    } catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException |
            IllegalAccessException | NoSuchMethodException |
            InvocationTargetException e) {
      throw new RuntimeException("Failed to create erasure codec", e);
    }

    if (codec == null) {
      throw new RuntimeException("Failed to create erasure codec");
    }

    return codec;
  }

  private static String getCodecClassName(Configuration conf, String codec) {
    switch (codec) {
    case ErasureCodeConstants.RS_CODEC_NAME:
      return conf.get(
          CodecUtil.IO_ERASURECODE_CODEC_RS_KEY,
          CodecUtil.IO_ERASURECODE_CODEC_RS);
    case ErasureCodeConstants.RS_LEGACY_CODEC_NAME:
      //TODO:rs-legacy should be handled differently.
      return conf.get(

View on GitHub (pinned to 2add963021)

Solutions

1. Review the codec configuration (codec name, numDataUnits, numParityUnits, coder list) for invalid values.
2. Check the nested cause exception for the underlying factory failure and fix the reported parameter.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/io/erasurecode/CodecUtil.java:246 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: Occurs when the erasure codec factory fails to instantiate the configured codec class. Check the codec class name in configuration and that it is on the classpath.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/hadoop@2add963021 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f79460cf8cfdc5c4. Report an issue: GitHub.