Resolving Amazon EMR Step Failure: ExitCode 127

Resolving Amazon EMR Step Failure: ExitCode 127
Regardless of the level of proficiency and experience in dealing with Amazon EMR, everyone has come across various types of errors. One of the common errors encountered is the “Step failed with exitCode 127”. In this blog post, we’ll shed light on the causes of this error and provide a step-by-step guide on how to resolve it.
What Is ExitCode 127?
To understand the error, it’s essential to comprehend what the ExitCode 127 represents. In UNIX and Linux environments, which Amazon EMR is built upon, an exit code or a return code is reported by an executable program, such as a shell script or a compiled binary program. Each exit code provides information to the calling script or program about the outcome of the executed program.
ExitCode 127 is a specific type of exit status that means “command not found.” It’s usually triggered when the shell cannot find the executable binary or script that it has been asked to run.
Causes of ExitCode 127 in Amazon EMR
The ExitCode 127 error in Amazon EMR usually arises from one or both of the following reasons:
Incorrect Environment Paths: If the environment variable paths are not set correctly, the system may not find the command it needs to execute.
Missing Dependencies: The required dependencies for the command might not be installed.
How to Resolve ExitCode 127
Given the causes, let’s dive into how we can resolve the ExitCode 127 error.
Step 1: Check Environment Variables
Make sure the environment variables are set correctly on your EMR. You can SSH into your master node and check the environment variables by using the printenv
command:
ssh -i /path/my-key-pair.pem hadoop@ec2-198-51-100-1.compute-1.amazonaws.com
printenv
Check for PATH
variable. If the path of the software you are trying to run is not in the PATH
variable, you need to add it.
export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/my/program
Step 2: Check Required Dependencies
The next step is to ensure all the required dependencies for your program are installed. Depending on the language your script is written in, you may need to install different packages or libraries.
For Python scripts:
pip install required-package
For Java:
sudo apt-get install required-package
Step 3: Log Inspection
If the error persists, inspect the logs for more details about the error. You can view the logs in the EMR console or use the AWS CLI to view them. Make sure to look for any errors or warnings that could give more clues.
aws emr describe-step --cluster-id j-XXXXXXXX --step-id s-XXXXXXXX
Conclusion
ExitCode 127 error in Amazon EMR can be a bit tricky to troubleshoot, especially without a clear understanding of the underlying cause. However, by checking the environment variables, ensuring the required dependencies are installed, and inspecting the logs, you can effectively resolve this error.
Remember, the key to mitigating such errors lies in regular maintenance, frequent checks, and comprehensive understanding of the system.
Keywords: Amazon EMR, ExitCode 127, error resolution, troubleshooting, data science, software engineering, environment variables, dependencies, log inspection, AWS CLI.
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