apache/hadoop · error · IOException

Symlink resolution is disabled in this version of Hadoop.

Error message

Symlink resolution is disabled in this version of Hadoop.

What it means

Error "Symlink resolution is disabled in this version of Hadoop." thrown in apache/hadoop.

Source

Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FileSystemLinkResolver.java:91

    int count = 0;
    T in = null;
    Path p = path;
    // Assumes path belongs to this FileSystem.
    // Callers validate this by passing paths through FileSystem#checkPath
    FileSystem fs = filesys;
    for (boolean isLink = true; isLink;) {
      try {
        in = doCall(p);
        isLink = false;
      } catch (UnresolvedLinkException e) {
        if (!filesys.resolveSymlinks) {
          throw new IOException("Path " + path + " contains a symlink"
              + " and symlink resolution is disabled ("
              + CommonConfigurationKeys.FS_CLIENT_RESOLVE_REMOTE_SYMLINKS_KEY
              + ").", e);
        }
        if (!FileSystem.areSymlinksEnabled()) {
          throw new IOException("Symlink resolution is disabled in" +
              " this version of Hadoop.");
        }
        if (count++ > FsConstants.MAX_PATH_LINKS) {
          throw new IOException("Possible cyclic loop while " +
                                "following symbolic link " + path);
        }
        // Resolve the first unresolved path component
        p = FSLinkResolver.qualifySymlinkTarget(fs.getUri(), p,
            filesys.resolveLink(p));
        fs = FileSystem.getFSofPath(p, filesys.getConf());
        // Have to call next if it's a new FS
        if (!fs.equals(filesys)) {
          return next(fs, p);
        }
        // Else, we keep resolving with this filesystem
      }
    }
    // Successful call, path was fully resolved

View on GitHub (pinned to 2add963021)

Solutions

1. Upgrade to a Hadoop version with symlink support enabled.
2. Avoid operations that require resolving symbolic links in paths.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FileSystemLinkResolver.java:91 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/hadoop@2add963021 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/63d77c368e0dd667. Report an issue: GitHub.