Error
Error Code:
1531
MySQL Error 1531: Incorrect Size Parameter Format
Description
MySQL Error 1531 indicates that a parameter requiring a specific size format (either a plain number or a number followed by a unit like 'M' for megabytes) was provided with an invalid value. This typically occurs when configuring system variables, creating tables with specific storage options, or executing commands that expect size specifications in a predefined format.
Error Message
A size parameter was incorrectly specified, either number or on the form 10M
Known Causes
3 known causesInvalid Numeric Format
A parameter expecting a simple integer or numeric value received non-digit characters, an empty string, or an invalid numerical representation.
Incorrect Unit Suffix or Format
A parameter requiring a size with a unit (e.g., '10M', '1G') was provided with an incorrect suffix, a space between the number and unit, or a non-standard unit.
Typographical Error
A simple typo, misplaced character, or incorrect punctuation within the size parameter value, leading to an unrecognizable format.
Solutions
3 solutions available1. Correcting Size Parameter Syntax in Configuration Files easy
Ensures size parameters in MySQL configuration files use valid notation like '10M' or '2G'.
1
Locate your MySQL configuration file. This is typically `my.cnf` on Linux/macOS or `my.ini` on Windows.
2
Open the configuration file in a text editor.
3
Find the configuration variable that is causing the error. Common variables include `innodb_buffer_pool_size`, `key_buffer_size`, `max_allowed_packet`, `query_cache_size`, etc. Look for values that are not in the expected format.
4
Correct the size parameter to use valid suffixes. Accepted suffixes are 'K' (kilobytes), 'M' (megabytes), and 'G' (gigabytes). For example, change `64000000` to `64M` or `1073741824` to `1G`.
[mysqld]
# Incorrect example:
# innodb_buffer_pool_size = 67108864
# Correct example:
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 64M5
Save the configuration file.
6
Restart the MySQL server for the changes to take effect.
sudo systemctl restart mysql2. Verifying Size Parameter Syntax in MySQL Client Commands easy
Checks and corrects size parameter syntax when setting variables directly via the MySQL client.
1
Connect to your MySQL server using the MySQL client.
mysql -u your_user -p2
Attempt to set a configuration variable that might be causing the error. Look for commands where you might have used an incorrect size format.
SET GLOBAL innodb_buffer_pool_size = 67108864; -- Incorrect syntax3
Correct the size parameter to use valid suffixes like 'K', 'M', or 'G'.
SET GLOBAL innodb_buffer_pool_size = 64M;4
Execute the corrected command.
SET GLOBAL innodb_buffer_pool_size = 64M;5
Verify the setting has been applied.
SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'innodb_buffer_pool_size';3. Reviewing and Correcting Scripted MySQL Deployments medium
Identifies and fixes incorrect size parameter formatting in scripts used for MySQL setup or configuration.
1
Identify any scripts (e.g., shell scripts, Ansible playbooks, Dockerfiles) that are responsible for configuring or starting your MySQL server.
2
Examine these scripts for any commands that modify MySQL configuration or set global variables.
3
Specifically, look for lines that set size-related parameters (e.g., `innodb_buffer_pool_size`, `max_allowed_packet`, `tmp_table_size`).
4
Ensure that any numeric values for these parameters are either plain numbers (though this is less common and can lead to confusion) or followed by the correct suffix ('K', 'M', 'G').
# Example in a shell script setting a my.cnf value:
echo "innodb_buffer_pool_size = 128M" >> /etc/mysql/my.cnf5
Correct any instances of incorrect size parameter formatting within the scripts.
6
Re-run the deployment scripts after making corrections.