{"record":{"id":"088eb609d6540eee","repo":"apache/cassandra","slug":"hints-directory-must-not-be-the-same-as-the-accord","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"hints_directory must not be the same as the accord.journal_directory","messagePattern":"hints_directory must not be the same as the accord\\.journal_directory","errorType":"validation","errorClass":"ConfigurationException","httpStatus":null,"severity":"error","filePath":"src/java/org/apache/cassandra/config/DatabaseDescriptor.java","lineNumber":929,"sourceCode":"            if (conf.local_system_data_file_directory.equals(conf.hints_directory))\n                throw new ConfigurationException(\"local_system_data_file_directory must not be the same as the hints_directory\", false);\n\n            long freeBytes = tryGetSpace(conf.local_system_data_file_directory, FileStore::getUnallocatedSpace);\n\n            if (freeBytes < ONE_GIB)\n                logger.warn(\"Only {} free in the system data volume. Consider adding more capacity or removing obsolete snapshots\",\n                            FBUtilities.prettyPrintMemory(freeBytes));\n        }\n\n        if (conf.commitlog_directory.equals(conf.accord.journal_directory))\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"accord.journal_directory must not be the same as the commitlog_directory\", false);\n        if (conf.commitlog_directory.equals(conf.hints_directory))\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"hints_directory must not be the same as the commitlog_directory\", false);\n        if (conf.commitlog_directory.equals(conf.saved_caches_directory))\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"saved_caches_directory must not be the same as the commitlog_directory\", false);\n\n        if (conf.accord.journal_directory.equals(conf.hints_directory))\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"hints_directory must not be the same as the accord.journal_directory\", false);\n        if (conf.accord.journal_directory.equals(conf.saved_caches_directory))\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"saved_caches_directory must not be the same as the accord.journal_directory\", false);\n\n        if (conf.hints_directory.equals(conf.saved_caches_directory))\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"saved_caches_directory must not be the same as the hints_directory\", false);\n\n        initializeBackgroundWriteDiskAccessMode();\n\n        if (conf.memtable_flush_writers == 0)\n        {\n            conf.memtable_flush_writers = conf.data_file_directories.length == 1 ? 2 : 1;\n        }\n\n        if (conf.memtable_flush_writers < 1)\n            throw new ConfigurationException(\"memtable_flush_writers must be at least 1, but was \" + conf.memtable_flush_writers, false);\n\n        if (conf.memtable_cleanup_threshold == null)\n        {","sourceCodeStart":911,"sourceCodeEnd":947,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/apache/cassandra/blob/88fd0f6a0eaed8943f05ac9e8f947882b8ddc8f1/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/config/DatabaseDescriptor.java#L911-L947","documentation":"DatabaseDescriptor.applySimpleConfig throws this ConfigurationException when the Accord journal directory equals the hints directory. Both are durable write locations that must remain on distinct configured paths so their I/O and space usage do not interfere.","triggerScenarios":"Set accord.journal_directory equal to hints_directory in cassandra.yaml and start the node; validation happens in applySimpleConfig (toolInitialization/applyAll).","commonSituations":"Fresh Accord setups where the journal was pointed at an existing hints volume; template configs with a single 'misc' volume path reused for several directory keys.","solutions":["Set accord.journal_directory to a different path than hints_directory in cassandra.yaml.","If sharing a device, use distinct subdirectories.","Re-review cassandra.yaml for duplicate directory values after any Accord-related edits."],"exampleFix":"// before (cassandra.yaml)\naccord:\n  journal_directory: /data/misc\nhints_directory: /data/misc\n// after\naccord:\n  journal_directory: /data/misc/accord_journal\nhints_directory: /data/misc/hints","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"if (cfg.accord != null && cfg.accord.journal_directory != null && cfg.accord.journal_directory.equals(cfg.hints_directory))\n    throw new IllegalArgumentException(\"accord.journal_directory must differ from hints_directory\");","typeGuard":"boolean dirsDistinct(String a, String b) { return a == null || b == null || !new File(a).getAbsolutePath().equals(new File(b).getAbsolutePath()); }","tryCatchPattern":"try { DatabaseDescriptor.applyAll(cfg); } catch (ConfigurationException e) { logger.error(\"Directory collision: {}\", e.getMessage()); System.exit(1); }","preventionTips":["Assign the Accord journal a path distinct from hints at initial setup","Run the uniqueness lint on every config change","Avoid reusing an existing auxiliary directory key for new journal settings"],"tags":["config","startup","directory-conflict","accord"],"backgroundTag":"conflicting-config-options","analyzedSha":"88fd0f6a0eaed8943f05ac9e8f947882b8ddc8f1","analyzedAt":"2026-09-10T07:29:22.284Z","contentChangedAt":"2026-09-10T07:29:22.284Z","schemaVersion":2},"datasetVersion":"2026-09-14T16:17:12.679Z"}