Resolving MySQL Error 1013 (ER_CANT_GET_STAT): A Step-by-Step Guide

When working with MySQL, encountering Error 1013 can be a sign of several underlying issues. This error is generally followed by a message similar to:

Error 1013 - SQLSTATE: HY000 (ER_CANT_GET_STAT) Can't get status of '%s' (errno: %d)

Here, %s represents the file or directory path, and %d is the error number from the operating system. This error indicates that MySQL is unable to retrieve the status of a file or directory. To resolve this issue, consider the following steps:

File or Directory Does Not Exist

First, check if the file or directory referenced by MySQL actually exists on the system.

Example:
If MySQL is trying to access a file for a table that doesn’t exist, you’ll encounter this error.

Sample Code:

ls -l /path/to/mysql/data/dbname/tablename.frm

If the file is not found, you may need to create it or restore it from a backup.

Permission Issues

MySQL might not have the necessary permissions to read the file or directory.

Example:
If the MySQL server is trying to access a file or directory and lacks the appropriate permissions, the error will occur.

Sample Code:

sudo chown -R mysql:mysql /path/to/mysql/data/dbname
sudo chmod -R 755 /path/to/mysql/data/dbname

Disk Space Constraints

If the disk is full, MySQL might not be able to access the file’s status due to underlying system errors.

Example:
Before running operations that require file status checks, ensure there is enough disk space.

Sample Code:

df -h

This command displays the available disk space. Free up space if necessary.

Configuration Errors

Check the MySQL configuration for any incorrect paths, especially for data directories.

Example:
An incorrect path in the my.cnf or my.ini file for the datadir could cause this error.

Sample Code:

grep 'datadir' /etc/mysql/my.cnf

Verify that the path is correct and accessible.

Filesystem Corruption or Issues

Filesystem corruption or issues such as a read-only filesystem can also lead to this error.

Example:
If the filesystem where the MySQL data directory resides becomes read-only, MySQL cannot retrieve file status.

Sample Code:

mount | grep /path/to/data

Check the mount options to ensure the filesystem is not mounted as read-only.

Operating System-Level Errors

The error number provided can help identify specific operating system errors. Use it to diagnose issues that are not directly related to MySQL but affect its operation.

Example:
If the error includes errno: 13, it usually means permission denied, while errno: 28 indicates no space left on device.

Sample Code:
There isn’t a specific code snippet for this, but you would use the error number to investigate the corresponding system error.

By systematically checking these potential causes, you should be able to understand and resolve MySQL Error 1013. Always ensure that you have backups of your databases before attempting fixes that could affect data, and consider seeking professional assistance if you are unsure about any step in the process.

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