MySQL raises ER_MASTER_KEY_ROTATION_SE_UNAVAILABLE (code 3182) when you issue a master key rotation but the required storage engine plugin is disabled or missing.
MySQL error 3182 ER_MASTER_KEY_ROTATION_SE_UNAVAILABLE appears when ALTER INSTANCE ROTATE INNODB MASTER KEY runs while the InnoDB storage engine or keyring plugin is unavailable. Load or enable the engine and plugin, then rerun the rotation to resolve the problem.
ER_MASTER_KEY_ROTATION_SE_UNAVAILABLE
Error 3182 appears when MySQL cannot find a storage engine that supports master key rotation. The server throws the message "Storage engine is not available" immediately after an ALTER INSTANCE ROTATE INNODB MASTER KEY command.
The condition was introduced in MySQL 5.7.11 as part of the data-at-rest encryption feature set. Fixing it is critical because key rotation stops, leaving encrypted tablespaces at risk.
The most frequent cause is that the InnoDB storage engine has been disabled with the skip-innodb option. Without InnoDB, key rotation cannot proceed.
A second trigger is an unloaded or misconfigured keyring plugin, such as keyring_file.so or keyring_encrypted_file.so, which the server needs to store the new master key.
Running the server with a read-only keyring file will also block rotation and surface the same error.
Enable InnoDB by removing skip-innodb from my.cnf and restarting MySQL. Verify availability with SHOW ENGINES.
Load a keyring plugin at startup: plugin-load-add=keyring_file.so in the MySQL configuration, and set keyring_file_data to a writable path.
After confirming both components are active, rerun ALTER INSTANCE ROTATE INNODB MASTER KEY to complete the rotation.
On minimalist containers the default my.cnf often disables InnoDB to save memory. Restoring InnoDB fixes the error.
In encrypted MySQL images, the keyring plugin path might be wrong after a volume move. Correcting the absolute path restores key rotation.
Always load a keyring plugin in production builds that use encryption. Validate plugin status with SELECT PLUGIN_NAME, PLUGIN_STATUS FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.PLUGINS.
Automate key rotation in maintenance windows and include a pre-check that confirms InnoDB and keyring availability, reducing downtime risk.
ER_MASTER_KEY_ROTATION_FAIL (3181) fires when rotation starts but cannot finish. It differs because the storage engine is present but a lower level failure stops the process. Reloading the keyring or fixing file permissions resolves it.
ER_KEYRING_ACCESS_DENIED (3180) signals permission issues on the keyring file rather than a missing engine. Grant write access to the MySQL OS user to fix.
Setting skip-innodb in my.cnf removes the engine required for encrypted tablespaces, triggering the error.
If no keyring plugin is loaded, MySQL cannot safely store the new master key and aborts the rotation.
Filesystem or permission constraints that set the keyring file to read-only prevent key updates and surface the error.
Loading the keyring plugin after InnoDB may cause initialization races; ensuring correct order avoids the problem.
Rotation started but failed mid-process; often caused by keyring file permissions.
MySQL cannot write to the keyring file. Fix file system permissions or SELinux contexts.
Migrating keys between keyring plugins failed. Verify both plugins and file paths.
Yes. InnoDB is the only engine that supports tablespace encryption in MySQL, so it must be enabled to rotate master keys.
Key rotation itself is online, but restarting MySQL to load a plugin will cause brief downtime. Load plugins during a maintenance window.
Galaxy surfaces real-time error logs in its SQL editor, so you immediately see ER_MASTER_KEY_ROTATION_SE_UNAVAILABLE and linked fixes without leaving your workflow.
The command is available from MySQL 5.7.11 onward. Earlier versions do not support key rotation.
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