pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleException

Error while executing psql

Error message

Error while executing psql : {}

What it means

IngresVectorwiseLoader.execute() throws this KettleException when Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd) throws an IOException while trying to launch the external psql/sql command-line process used to feed data to Ingres VectorWise. The command string is included in the message for diagnosis.

Solutions

1. Verify the psql/sql executable path configured in the step is correct and exists
2. Ensure the executable is on PATH for the user running the transformation (which psql)
3. Check execute permissions on the binary (chmod +x)
4. Inspect the wrapped IOException for 'No such file' vs 'Permission denied' and fix accordingly

Example fix

// before
sqlPath = "psql"; // not installed
// after
sqlPath = "/opt/Ingres/ingres/bin/sql"; // absolute path to the client executable

String path = environmentSubstitute(meta.getSqlPath());
if (new File(path).canExecute() == false) { throw new IllegalStateException("sql client not executable: " + path); }

try { loader.execute(result, nr); } catch (KettleException e) { if (e.getCause() instanceof IOException) { logError("Failed to launch sql client: " + e.getCause().getMessage(), e); } }

When it happens

Trigger: processRow() calls execute(), which attempts to start the external SQL process; exec() fails with an IOException — executable not found on PATH, insufficient permission to execute, or system resource limits (fork failed).

Common situations: psql/sql client not installed or not on PATH of the user running Kettle; wrong command path configured in the step; running under a service account lacking execute permission; too many processes (fork limit).

Related errors

• Error opening new file :
• Cannot open control file
• Cannot open data file
• ChangeFileEncoding.Error.CreatingFile
• Could not read file

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/137d02d5880151f9. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at plugins/ivw-bulk-loader/impl/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/ivwloader/IngresVectorwiseLoader.java:137

        // throw new Exception("Return code " + result + " received from statement : " + chmodCmd);
        // }
      }

      // 2) Execute the Ingres "sql" command...
      //

      String cmd = createCommandLine( meta );
      String logMessage = masqueradPassword( cmd );
      if ( meta.isUseDynamicVNode() ) {
        // masquerading the password for log
        logMessage = masqueradPassword( cmd );
      }
      logDetailed( "Executing command: " + logMessage );

      try {
        data.sqlProcess = rt.exec( cmd );
      } catch ( IOException ex ) {
        throw new KettleException( "Error while executing psql : " + logMessage, ex );
      }

      // any error message?
      //
      data.errorLogger = new StreamLogger( log, data.sqlProcess.getErrorStream(), "ERR_SQL", true );
      new Thread( data.errorLogger ).start();

      // any output?
      data.outputLogger = new StreamLogger( log, data.sqlProcess.getInputStream(), "OUT_SQL" );

      // Where do we send the data to? --> To STDIN of the sql process
      //
      data.sqlOutputStream = data.sqlProcess.getOutputStream();

      logWriter = new LogWriter( data.sqlProcess.getInputStream() );
      logWriteThread = new Thread( logWriter, "IngresVecorWiseStepLogWriter" );
      logWriteThread.start();

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