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Description

This error indicates that the storage engine chosen for a table does not support a specific feature or constraint defined within that table. It commonly occurs during `CREATE TABLE` or `ALTER TABLE` operations when a feature like a `CHECK` constraint or a particular index type is incompatible with the selected engine (e.g., MyISAM, InnoDB).

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Error Message

The storage engine for the table doesn't support %s

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Known Causes

3 known causes

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Unsupported `CHECK` Constraint

The table definition includes a `CHECK` constraint, which may not be supported by the selected storage engine (e.g., older InnoDB versions) or the current MariaDB server version.

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Engine Lacks Specific Feature

The chosen storage engine (e.g., MyISAM) does not support a specific feature such as `FOREIGN KEY` constraints, `FULLTEXT` indexes, or spatial data types defined in the table.

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MariaDB Version Incompatibility

Attempting to use a database feature that is only available in a newer MariaDB server version or a specific configuration of the storage engine than what is currently installed.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Convert Table to InnoDB medium

Migrates the table to the InnoDB storage engine, which supports a wider range of features.

1

Identify the table causing the error and its current storage engine.

SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name;

2

If the table is not using InnoDB, convert it by altering the table definition.

ALTER TABLE your_table_name ENGINE=InnoDB;

3

Verify the storage engine has been changed.

SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name;

2. Remove Unsupported Feature medium

Modifies the table definition to exclude the feature not supported by the current storage engine.

1

Determine the specific unsupported feature mentioned in the error message (e.g., 'FULLTEXT index', 'SPATIAL index', 'CHECK constraints').

Observe the '%s' placeholder in the error message: MariaDB Error 1178: The storage engine for the table doesn't support %s

2

If the unsupported feature is an index, you can remove it. For example, to remove a FULLTEXT index:

ALTER TABLE your_table_name DROP INDEX index_name;

3

If it's a constraint (like CHECK), you might need to drop it. Note: Older versions of MariaDB might not support CHECK constraints in all engines.

ALTER TABLE your_table_name DROP CHECK constraint_name;

4

Re-create the table or modify it without the unsupported feature. For example, if creating a new table, omit the unsupported clause.

CREATE TABLE your_table_name (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  data VARCHAR(255)
) ENGINE=your_current_engine_name;

3. Upgrade MariaDB Version advanced

Updates MariaDB to a newer version that might offer broader support for table features.

1

Check your current MariaDB version.

SELECT VERSION();

2

Research the release notes for recent MariaDB versions to see if the unsupported feature has been added or improved for your current storage engine.

Visit the official MariaDB documentation website.

3

Plan and execute a MariaDB upgrade according to the official documentation. This typically involves backing up your data, stopping the MariaDB service, installing the new version, and running the mysql_upgrade utility.

sudo systemctl stop mariadb
# Follow upgrade instructions for your OS (e.g., apt, yum)
mysql_upgrade -u root -p

4

After the upgrade, test the table creation or operation that previously failed.

Attempt the operation that caused Error 1178.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MariaDB Error 1178: Unsupported Table Feature