kubernetes/kops · error

error loading config file: %v

Error message

error loading config file: %v

What it means

OpenstackConfig.getSection loads the INI config file resolved by filename() using go-ini's ini.Load. If the file cannot be read or parsed (missing, unreadable permissions, malformed INI), the error is wrapped as 'error loading config file'.

Source

Thrown at util/pkg/vfs/swiftfs.go:125

	}

	homeDir := homedir.HomeDir()
	if homeDir == "" {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("can not find home directory")
	}
	f := filepath.Join(homeDir, ".openstack", "config")
	klog.V(2).Infof("using openstack config found in %s", f)
	return f, nil
}

func (oc OpenstackConfig) getSection(name string, items []string) (map[string]string, error) {
	filename, err := oc.filename()
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}
	config, err := ini.Load(filename)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error loading config file: %v", err)
	}
	section, err := config.GetSection(name)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error getting section of %s: %v", name, err)
	}
	values := make(map[string]string)
	for _, item := range items {
		values[item] = section.Key(item).String()
	}
	return values, nil
}

func (oc OpenstackConfig) GetCredential() (gophercloud.AuthOptions, error) {
	// prioritize environment config
	env, enverr := openstack.AuthOptionsFromEnv()
	if enverr != nil {
		klog.Warningf("Could not initialize OpenStack config from environment: %v", enverr)
		// fallback to config file

View on GitHub (pinned to 4c8573c808)

Solutions

1. Verify the resolved path exists and is readable: ls -l $(echo $OPENSTACK_CREDENTIAL_FILE || echo ~/.openstack/config).
2. Ensure the file is valid INI with [section] headers and key = value lines.
3. Fix file permissions so the kops process user can read it.
4. Check the wrapped %v cause for parse errors and fix the offending line.

Example fix

// before (malformed INI)
Global
region RegionOne
// after
[Global]
region = RegionOne

// Pre-validate the INI file parses before invoking the library
if _, err := ini.Load(configPath); err != nil {
	return fmt.Errorf("openstack config %s is not valid INI: %w", configPath, err)
}

When it happens

Trigger: GetRegion, GetServiceConfig, or getCredentialFromFile -> getSection when the config path (from OPENSTACK_CREDENTIAL_FILE or ~/.openstack/config) does not exist, has wrong permissions, or contains invalid INI syntax.

Common situations: OPENSTACK_CREDENTIAL_FILE pointing to a nonexistent path, config file with YAML/JSON content instead of INI, duplicate/broken keys, or a permissions issue after copying with root ownership.

Related errors

• error getting section of %s: %v
• missing %s in section of %s
• did not find floatingsubnet for external router
• did not find floatingsubnet for LB
• Failed to find external network: %v

AI-assisted analysis of kubernetes/kops@4c8573c808 (2026-09-05). Data as JSON: /api/errors/507664acc3764bf1. Report an issue: GitHub.