apache/seatunnel · error · CatalogException

Failed to create database: ${databaseName}

Error message

Failed to create database: ${databaseName}

What it means

Generic CatalogException thrown by HiveMetaStoreCatalog.createDatabase when the metastore call fails for any reason other than a benign AlreadyExistsException (e.g. connectivity or Thrift errors). It wraps the original TException as the cause.

Source

Thrown at seatunnel-connectors-v2/connector-hive/src/main/java/org/apache/seatunnel/connectors/seatunnel/hive/utils/HiveMetaStoreCatalog.java:670

            throws TableNotExistException, CatalogException {
        if (!tableExists(tablePath) && !ignoreIfNotExists) {
            throw new TableNotExistException("hive", tablePath);
        }
        if (tableExists(tablePath)) {
            dropTable(tablePath.getDatabaseName(), tablePath.getTableName());
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void createDatabase(TablePath tablePath, boolean ignoreIfExists)
            throws DatabaseAlreadyExistException, CatalogException {
        try {
            createDatabaseIfNotExists(tablePath.getDatabaseName());
        } catch (TException e) {
            if (e instanceof AlreadyExistsException && !ignoreIfExists) {
                throw new DatabaseAlreadyExistException("hive", tablePath.getDatabaseName());
            }
            throw new CatalogException(
                    "Failed to create database: " + tablePath.getDatabaseName(), e);
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void dropDatabase(TablePath tablePath, boolean ignoreIfNotExists)
            throws DatabaseNotExistException, CatalogException {
        try {
            if (!databaseExists(tablePath.getDatabaseName()) && !ignoreIfNotExists) {
                throw new DatabaseNotExistException("hive", tablePath.getDatabaseName());
            }
            if (databaseExists(tablePath.getDatabaseName())) {
                getClient().dropDatabase(tablePath.getDatabaseName());
            }
        } catch (TException e) {
            throw new CatalogException(
                    "Failed to drop database: " + tablePath.getDatabaseName(), e);
        }

View on GitHub (pinned to cf67b549a7)

Solutions

1. Inspect the wrapped cause (getCause()) for the real TException message
2. Verify the Hive Metastore URI and that the service is reachable (telnet/nc the thrift port)
3. Check kerberos settings (hive-site.xml, keytab/principal) if the cluster is secured
4. Retry after fixing connectivity; ensure Hive and SeaTunnel Hive connector versions are compatible

Example fix

// before
try { catalog.createDatabase(tablePath, false); }
catch (Exception e) { log.error("failed", e); }
// after
try { catalog.createDatabase(tablePath, true); }
catch (DatabaseAlreadyExistException e) { /* ok */ }
catch (CatalogException e) { throw new RuntimeException("Metastore call failed: " + e.getCause(), e); }

// preflight: try connecting to metastore
hiveConf.addResource(new Path(hiveSitePath)); // then attempt a light call e.g. getAllDatabases()

null

try { catalog.createDatabase(tablePath, true); } catch (CatalogException e) { throw new RuntimeException("Metastore failure: " + e.getCause(), e); }

When it happens

Trigger: createDatabase cannot reach the Hive Metastore (network down, wrong metastore URI), the Thrift call throws a non-AlreadyExists TException, or authentication/authorization to the metastore fails.

Common situations: Metastore service is down or unreachable; kerberos/login issues; firewall blocking the metastore thrift port; metastore schema mismatch after a Hive version upgrade.

Understand the failure class

Background: Database query failed: Internal Server Error 500s wrapping SQL, Prisma, and connection failures — what to check first — this error's family across 16 libraries.

Related errors

• Failed to open Hive catalog
• Failed to list databases
• Database ${databaseName} does not exist in catalog hive
• Failed to list tables in database: ${databaseName}
• Table ${tablePath} does not exist in catalog hive

AI-assisted analysis of apache/seatunnel@cf67b549a7 (2026-09-10). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0ea4c07cbfec11bb. Report an issue: GitHub.