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Description

This error indicates that MySQL attempted to use a storage engine that is either not installed, not loaded, or explicitly disabled. It typically occurs during server startup, database operations that require a specific engine, or when a configured engine cannot be found or initialized.

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Error Message

Storage engine is not available.

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Known Causes

3 known causes

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Engine Not Loaded or Disabled

The required storage engine, such as InnoDB or MyISAM, might be explicitly disabled in the MySQL configuration file (`my.cnf`) or was not compiled into the MySQL server binary.

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Missing or Corrupted Plugin Files

If the storage engine is loaded as a plugin, its corresponding `.so` (or `.dll` on Windows) files might be missing from the plugin directory or have become corrupted, preventing the engine from loading.

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Incorrect Configuration Reference

The MySQL configuration might contain a misspelled storage engine name or refer to an engine that does not exist or is not supported by the current MySQL server version.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Verify Storage Engine Availability easy

Check if the requested storage engine is enabled and compiled into your MySQL server.

1

Connect to your MySQL server as a user with sufficient privileges (e.g., root).

2

Execute the following SQL query to list all available storage engines.

SHOW ENGINES;

3

Examine the output for the storage engine you are trying to use (e.g., InnoDB, MyISAM). Ensure its 'Support' column shows 'YES' or 'DEFAULT'. If it shows 'NO', the engine is not available.

2. Enable Missing Storage Engine via Configuration medium

Modify your MySQL configuration file to enable a disabled storage engine.

1

Locate your MySQL configuration file. This is typically `my.cnf` or `my.ini` on Linux/macOS and Windows respectively. Common locations include `/etc/mysql/my.cnf`, `/etc/my.cnf`, or within the MySQL installation directory.

2

Open the configuration file in a text editor with administrator privileges.

3

Under the `[mysqld]` section, add or uncomment the line that enables the desired storage engine. For example, to ensure InnoDB is enabled, you might add or ensure the following line exists:

[mysqld]
# ... other settings ...
# You might need to uncomment this line if it's commented out
# default_storage_engine=InnoDB

4

If the storage engine is not compiled into your MySQL build, you might need to recompile MySQL from source with the desired engine enabled. This is an advanced step and often not necessary if you are using standard distributions.

5

Save the configuration file and restart the MySQL server for the changes to take effect.

sudo systemctl restart mysql  # For systemd-based systems
sudo service mysql restart     # For SysVinit-based systems
# On Windows, restart the MySQL service via the Services snap-in.

3. Reinstall MySQL with Storage Engine Support advanced

If a storage engine is missing due to an incomplete installation or custom build, reinstalling might be necessary.

1

Identify the specific storage engine that is unavailable. This error often occurs if an engine like InnoDB was deselected or not compiled during a custom MySQL build.

2

If you are using a package manager (e.g., `apt`, `yum`, `dnf`), ensure you are installing a standard MySQL package that includes common storage engines. For example, on Debian/Ubuntu, ensure you're not installing a minimal or custom build that excludes InnoDB.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install mysql-server  # Or appropriate package for your distro

3

If you compiled MySQL from source, revisit the `cmake` configuration step and ensure the desired storage engine was explicitly enabled. Then, recompile and reinstall.

cmake . -DWITH_INNODB_STORAGE_ENGINE=ON  # Example for enabling InnoDB
make && sudo make install

4

After reinstallation, restart the MySQL server and verify the storage engine's availability using `SHOW ENGINES;`.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MySQL Error 3182: Storage Engine Unavailable