Error
Error Code:
276
MongoDB Error 276: Index Build Aborted
Description
This error indicates that a MongoDB index creation process was interrupted and did not complete successfully. It often occurs due to resource constraints, server issues, or explicit termination, preventing new indexes from becoming available and impacting query performance.
Error Message
Index Build Aborted
Known Causes
4 known causesInsufficient System Resources
The server lacked adequate memory, disk space, or CPU during the index build, leading to its termination.
Unexpected Server Shutdown
The MongoDB instance or host machine was shut down or crashed while an index build was in progress, causing the operation to abort.
Manual Index Build Termination
An administrator explicitly stopped the index build operation using commands like `killOp` or `db.currentOp().killOp()`.
Concurrent Operations or Locks
Other high-priority database operations or locking conflicts might have caused the index build to be aborted by the database system.
Solutions
4 solutions available1. Investigate and Resolve Disk Space Constraints easy
Ensures sufficient disk space is available for index builds.
1
Check the available disk space on the server hosting your MongoDB instance. Index builds can consume significant space, especially for large collections or complex indexes.
df -h2
If disk space is low, free up space by deleting unnecessary files, old logs, or by expanding your storage.
3
Once sufficient space is confirmed, re-initiate the index build.
db.collection.createIndex({ field: 1 })2. Address Resource Exhaustion (CPU/Memory) medium
Mitigates issues caused by insufficient system resources during index creation.
1
Monitor system resource utilization (CPU and RAM) on the MongoDB server during the index build. High CPU or memory usage can cause the build to be aborted.
top2
If resources are constrained, consider scaling your hardware or optimizing other processes running on the server. For large indexes, consider building them during off-peak hours.
3
If the index build was aborted due to resource issues, wait for the system to stabilize and then retry the index creation.
db.collection.createIndex({ field: 1 })3. Simplify and Retry Index Build medium
Reduces complexity or targets smaller subsets for successful index creation.
1
Examine the index definition. If it's a compound index with many fields, try building it with fewer fields first to isolate potential issues.
db.collection.createIndex({ field1: 1, field2: 1 })2
For very large collections, consider building the index on a subset of the data first. This can be done by using the `partialFilterExpression` option.
db.collection.createIndex({ field: 1 }, { partialFilterExpression: { status: 'active' } })3
After successfully building a partial index, you can then extend it or build the full index if needed, potentially in stages.
4. Check for Concurrent Write Operations medium
Minimizes interference from heavy write loads during index creation.
1
Index builds can be significantly impacted by high volumes of concurrent write operations (inserts, updates, deletes) on the same collection. Review your application's write activity during the index build period.
2
If possible, temporarily reduce or pause write operations to the collection while the index is being built. This is often feasible in maintenance windows or during low-traffic periods.
3
Once write activity is managed, retry the index build.
db.collection.createIndex({ field: 1 })