The MySQL server process cannot change to its configured working directory because the operating system reports the path is missing or inaccessible.
MySQL Error 17: EE_SETWD occurs when the server cannot change to its data or tmp directory, usually because the path is missing or the MySQL user lacks permissions. Verify the directory exists and grant read-execute rights to the MySQL service account to resolve the problem.
Can't change dir to '%s' (OS errno %d - %s)
MySQL raises Error 17 with the condition name EE_SETWD when it fails to change into a target directory during startup or runtime. The failing call is chdir(), and MySQL relays the operating-system errno and message, such as ENOENT (No such file or directory) or EACCES (Permission denied).
The error blocks the server from completing the requested operation, often preventing startup, temporary‐file creation, or OUTFILE statements.
Fixing it quickly is critical because the instance remains unavailable or features relying on the affected directory stop working.
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The path specified by datadir, tmpdir, secure_file_priv, or FILE privilege statements may not exist on disk. MySQL therefore cannot change working directory and aborts with EE_SETWD.
Operating-system permissions frequently trigger the error. If the MySQL system user lacks execute (x) or read (r) rights on the directory, chdir() fails even when the path exists.
Create the missing directory or point MySQL to a valid path. Ensure the directory has 750 or more permissive mode and is owned by the mysql OS account.
Verify and correct configuration values in my.cnf or at runtime. Restart the service after changes so MySQL can attempt chdir() again.
Startup failure because datadir moved without updating my.cnf – update datadir, move data, adjust ownership, and restart.
LOAD DATA OUTFILE fails inside Galaxy SQL editor – set secure_file_priv to a writable folder and grant FILE privilege.
Keep datadir, tmpdir, and secure_file_priv under a single parent with consistent ownership. Automate permission checks in deployment scripts.
In Galaxy, store environment-specific connection metadata so queries referencing OUTFILE always target approved directories.
EE_CANTCREATEFILE indicates file creation failure in the same directories – verify disk space and permissions similarly.
ER_CANT_CREATE_FILE is a SQL-layer error mirroring filesystem issues; the troubleshooting steps overlap with EE_SETWD fixes.
If the failing directory is datadir, the server aborts startup. If it is tmpdir or secure_file_priv, only features using those paths fail.
All GA versions from 5.6 through 8.2 map EE_SETWD to internal error code 17, so troubleshooting steps remain the same.
Bind-mount the host directory, set proper ownership with --user or chown, and declare MYSQL_DATADIR or my.cnf values before running the container.
Galaxy stores and shares vetted connection strings and query templates, reducing ad-hoc OUTFILE paths. Its editor lets teams endorse secure_file_priv locations so queries fail fast in staging rather than production.
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