<p>MySQL throws error 1431 when a FEDERATED table or foreign server references a data source name that has not been defined.</p>
<p>MySQL Error 1431: ER_FOREIGN_DATA_SOURCE_DOESNT_EXIST appears when a FEDERATED table points to an undefined server name. Create the server with CREATE SERVER or insert into mysql.servers, then retry the statement to resolve the issue.</p>
The foreign data source you are trying to reference does
MySQL raises Error 1431 when a query references a foreign data source name that the server cannot find. The issue emerges most often with the FEDERATED storage engine, which relies on named remote servers stored in the mysql.servers table or created with the CREATE SERVER statement.
If the referenced name is missing, misspelled, or disabled, MySQL aborts the statement and returns ER_FOREIGN_DATA_SOURCE_DOESNT_EXIST. Because FEDERATED tables act as gateways to other databases, the error blocks access to critical data until the definition is restored.
The primary trigger is a connection string or CONNECTION='srv_name' option pointing to a server that does not exist in mysql.servers. Typographical errors, case mismatches, or accidental drops of the server definition are frequent culprits.
Other causes include insufficient privileges to read mysql.servers, server names wrapped in quotes incorrectly, and upgrades that ignore the FEDERATED engine, leaving historical tables without matching server entries.
First confirm the exact server name used in the table definition. Use SHOW CREATE TABLE or inspect the CREATE statement in your migration script. Once identified, create the missing server or correct the name.
Execute a CREATE SERVER statement or insert a row into mysql.servers, then FLUSH PRIVILEGES to make the change visible. After the server exists, rerun the original query to verify that the error no longer appears.
If you migrated a database dump that contained FEDERATED tables but not the mysql.servers contents, restore the missing rows from a backup or recreate them manually.
When deploying to new environments, run automated checks that compare the CONNECTION names found in INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES with the list returned by SHOW SERVERS, adding any that are absent.
Keep server definitions under version control alongside table DDL so they are applied consistently across environments. Use descriptive, lowercase server names to reduce typing mistakes.
Monitor error logs for ER_FOREIGN_DATA_SOURCE_DOESNT_EXIST and add health-checks that test each FEDERATED table periodically. Galaxy scripts can be scheduled to run these tests and notify the team before production traffic is affected.
Error 1430 ER_FRM_UNKNOWN_TYPE is raised when MySQL encounters an unsupported storage engine. Verify the FEDERATED plugin is loaded if you see this error.
Error 1824 HY000: Table is missing refers to missing .frm or .ibd files. Restore the relevant files or recreate the table.
The server name referenced by the table does not exist in mysql.servers or was never created with CREATE SERVER.
A simple typo or incorrect letter case in the CONNECTION value causes MySQL to fail the lookup.
Schema migrations that omit FEDERATED server definitions leave tables orphaned and trigger the error.
If the FEDERATED storage engine is not loaded, MySQL cannot resolve foreign data sources.
Users lacking SELECT permission on mysql.servers may see the error because MySQL hides the row.
Raised when a table specifies an unavailable storage engine; load the required plugin.
Occurs when MySQL cannot find the physical table files; restore or recreate the table.
Indicates failure in establishing an SSL connection to a remote MySQL instance.
Appears when a query references a database name that does not exist or is misspelled.
Yes. Without the FEDERATED storage engine loaded, MySQL cannot resolve foreign servers and will raise related errors.
No. The problem is the missing server definition, not the table schema. Recreate or restore the server first.
Yes. CREATE SERVER is portable and easier to version control compared to manual inserts.
Galaxy highlights ER_FOREIGN_DATA_SOURCE_DOESNT_EXIST instantly and lets you share fixed CREATE SERVER scripts with your team to prevent repeat incidents.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
