Terraform failed to download a plugin or binary during initialization. This typically happens due to network connectivity issues, registry problems, or misconfigured version constraints.
Terraform needs to download provider plugins and remote modules to operate. When this error appears, it means Terraform couldn't fetch required binaries from the HashiCorp registry or configured provider mirrors. This could be due to network restrictions, DNS issues, TLS/SSL problems, or the requested version not existing in the registry.
Check that you have basic network connectivity:
ping releases.hashicorp.comIf this fails, you have a network issue. Try:
- Checking your firewall/VPN settings
- Switching to a different network
- Restarting your network interface
Review your Terraform configuration for provider version constraints:
terraform {
required_providers {
aws = {
source = "hashicorp/aws"
version = "~> 5.0" # Check if this version exists
}
}
}Visit the HashiCorp Registry (https://registry.terraform.io) to verify the requested version exists. If using a version that's too new or doesn't exist, update your configuration.
Remove cached plugins and re-initialize:
rm -rf .terraform/
terraform initThis forces Terraform to re-download all providers and modules fresh. If you're behind a proxy, also try:
terraform init -upgradeIf you're behind a corporate proxy, set HTTP proxy environment variables:
# Linux/macOS
export HTTP_PROXY=http://proxy.company.com:8080
export HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy.company.com:8080
# Windows (PowerShell)
$env:HTTP_PROXY="http://proxy.company.com:8080"
$env:HTTPS_PROXY="http://proxy.company.com:8080"Then retry:
terraform initSystem certificate issues can cause download failures:
# Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ca-certificates
# Linux (RHEL/CentOS)
sudo yum update ca-certificates
# macOS
# Update to latest macOS or manually update certificatesOn Windows, ensure your system certificates are current by running Windows Update.
If your environment has strict download restrictions, use a local Terraform registry mirror:
terraform {
cloud {
organization = "my-org"
}
}Or configure a network mirror:
export TF_NETWORK_MIRROR=https://internal-mirror.company.comContact your infrastructure team for mirror setup and credentials.
For environments with strict network policies, consider:
1. Network mirrors: Set up an internal Terraform Registry mirror using Terraform Cloud or Artifactory
2. Air-gapped setups: Download providers manually and use terraform providers lock with local mirrors
3. Rate limiting: If experiencing rate limits, wait a few minutes before retrying or use Terraform Cloud for faster downloads
4. TLS inspection: Some corporate proxies intercept HTTPS. Ensure Terraform can trust your CA certificates by updating your system's certificate store
5. Version pinning: Always pin specific provider versions to avoid accidental upgrades and reduce download variability
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