How to Fix “exec user process caused: exec format error” in Linux

After finishing an enormous mission, your group and also you determined to make use of containerization for all the mission within the staging and manufacturing steps to keep away from any environment-related points and last-minute “it really works on my machine” statements. However, whereas making a container, you encountered the “exec person course of induced: exec format error” and haven’t any clue the right way to repair this. Don’t fear, as we’re right here to assist. On this information, we are going to clarify the doable causes for this concern, together with some dependable fixes to resolve the “exec person course of induced: exec format error” in your Linux system.

Repair “exec person course of induced: exec format error” (2023)

What Causes the “exec person course of induced: exec format error”

The commonest reason behind the “exec person course of induced: exec format error” is the lacking script header reminiscent of #!/bin/bash. This leads the container to maneuver into the ready stage with the explanation CrashLoopBackOff if you attempt to run it. Upon checking the container log recordsdata, you will discover the precise title of the error as standard_init_linux.go:300: exec person course of induced “exec format error.”

Along with the above-mentioned purpose, there might be different the explanation why this error happens whereas working with containers:

1. Utilizing the unsuitable script header reminiscent of including an area in between.
2. Utilizing some incompatible character encodings whereas writing the scripts
3. Non-matching CPU structure
4. Lacking file permissions

This isn’t an exhaustive checklist of doable causes behind this error, however we’ve got enlisted the commonest causes. That mentioned, listed below are the 5 greatest options to repair the problem in your Linux PC.

The best way to Repair the “exec person course of induced: exec format error”

When writing any script with an interpreted language, it’s at all times advisable to make use of a script header. It tells the shell to make use of which interpreter. You may consider the script header because the entry level for scripts. A number of issues to bear in mind whereas utilizing a script header:

• A script header ought to begin with a shebang (#!) character.
• The header mustn’t include any areas or every other particular characters.
• Use the suitable headers for the programming language you’re engaged on, and the header must also correspond to the actual script and the distro. For instance, if you’re utilizing python 3.x on a Debian-based distro, use the next script header:

#!/bin/python3

Whereas utilizing Alpine Linux, customers have a tendency to make use of the identical bash script headers which might be utilized in different Linux distros. For Alpine Linux, many use the next script header:

#!/bin/ash

2. Fallacious Character Encoding for Newlines

The newline character appears trivial and is usually ignored whereas troubleshooting, however it’s recognized to be a significant reason behind some errors. The newline character is used to indicate the “Finish Of Line” (EOL). That is interpreted in another way by Home windows and Linux. Home windows makes use of CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed), which interprets newline as rn . Alternatively, Linux makes use of LF (Line Feed), which interprets newlines as n .

Suppose you wrote a file in Home windows utilizing the CRLF encoding, which when despatched to staging or manufacturing with Linux as an atmosphere causes the exec format error. This downside will be solved utilizing some actually easy steps:

• Open the file in any Linux textual content editor of your alternative.
• Use the find-and-replace performance to first seek for the “rn” and exchange it with “n” in all of the places.
• Alternatively, you possibly can even set it to the Linux encoding if you find yourself writing the precise code.

3. Structure Mismatch

The system structure mismatch can be one of the crucial widespread causes for the “exec person course of induced: exec format error“. The containerization know-how was developed to resolve software program environment-related points however not {hardware} ones.

For instance, this normally occurs if you’re engaged on initiatives on a system with ARM structure, like with the brand new Apple M-series chipsets. Once you push a code to your manufacturing atmosphere, which is utilizing an x86 system, it leads to the “exec person course of induced: exec format error”. It is because each piece of code when transformed to the decrease degree of directions is totally different for each ARM and x86. Docker detects the Apple M1 Professional platform as “linux/arm64/v8“. To resolve this downside, use the next docker syntax whereas constructing a picture:

docker buildx construct --platform=linux/amd64 -t :-amd64 .

Then replace your Docker file’s “FROM” assertion utilizing this syntax:

FROM --platform=linux/amd64 :

Once you execute the above statements, your picture will get modified from arm64 to amd64 structure, fixing the problem at hand. Tell us if this resolution fixes the issues together with your docker deployments.

4. Fallacious Script Encoding

The unsuitable script encoding isn’t a standard concern however can be recognized to trigger the “exec person course of induced: exec format error,” particularly in Home windows Pcs. Once you begin writing the script, be sure that the encoding is about to UTF-8. If you’re utilizing VS Code to write down the script, you possibly can change the encoding utilizing the next steps:

1. Open the file you need the change the encoding for in VS Code.

2. Go to the “File” menu within the top-left and hover your cursor over the “Preferences” possibility within the drop-down menu. Right here, it’s essential choose the “Settings” possibility from the sub-menu. Alternatively, you possibly can instantly press “CTRL + , (comma)” on the keyboard to entry the Settings menu. It will open the settings menu in a separate tab.

3. Within the search bar, kind “encoding” and press Enter. Right here, you will note the “Recordsdata: Encoding” setting with a drop-down menu.

4. Right here, select UTF-8 from the drop-down menu. It will change the encoding format for all world recordsdata opened or modified utilizing VS Code.

Usually, making use of the UTF-8 encoding methodology works for many customers. However in case you’re nonetheless dealing with the error, you possibly can attempt altering the encoding to UTF8+BOM utilizing the identical steps as talked about above. Right here, BOM stands for Byte Order Mark.

If you’re utilizing vim or every other command line-based textual content editor, it makes use of the system-wide encoding format. Try this text on the right way to allow UTF-8 help in Linux.

5. Incorrect Permissions

File Permissions are sometimes ignored whereas engaged on a mission. Permissions are of three varieties – learn, write, and executable. The final kind is split into three classes of customers – proprietor, person, and group. Usually, in case you run an executable file with out the right permissions, it should give a “Permission Denied” error. However, whereas containerizing a giant mission, even a single file with out executable permissions could cause the “exec person course of induced: exec format error”. To examine the permissions for each file within the container, use the next steps:

1. First, navigate to the container utilizing the command:

cd

2. Then, to examine the file permissions of each file within the listing, use the next command:

ls -la

3. To alter permissions for a file to executable permission, use the next syntax:

chmod +x _1> _2> _3>

Remedy “exec person course of induced: exec format error”