Container Exited with a Non-Zero Exit Code 137: What It Means and How to Fix It (2024)

Container Exited with a Non-Zero Exit Code 137: What It Means and How to Fix It

If you’re a developer or system administrator, you’ve probably seen the dreaded error message “Container exited with a non-zero exit code 137.” This error can occur for a variety of reasons, but it can be difficult to troubleshoot. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what this error means and how you can fix it.

What Does “Container Exited with a Non-Zero Exit Code 137” Mean?

When a container exits with a non-zero exit code, it means that the container terminated abnormally. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as a programming error, a system failure, or a resource shortage. The exit code 137 specifically indicates that the container was terminated by a signal.

How to Fix “Container Exited with a Non-Zero Exit Code 137”

The first step to fixing this error is to identify the cause. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot this issue:

• Check the logs of the container and the host machine. This will help you identify the specific error that caused the container to terminate.
• Make sure that the container has the correct permissions to access the resources it needs.
• Check the configuration of the container. Make sure that the container is using the correct image and that the image is up-to-date.

If you’re still having trouble fixing this error, you can consult the documentation for your container runtime or the specific container image you’re using. You can also search the internet for more information on this error.

The “Container Exited with a Non-Zero Exit Code 137” error can be a frustrating one to troubleshoot, but it’s usually fixable. By following the steps in this article, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and fix it.

What does a non-zero exit code mean?

When a container exits, it returns an exit code. This code is an integer that indicates the status of the container’s termination. A non-zero exit code means that the container did not terminate successfully. The most common non-zero exit code is 137, which indicates that the container was killed by a signal.

What are the common causes of a container exiting with a non-zero exit code 137?

There are a number of possible causes for a container exiting with a non-zero exit code 137. Some of the most common causes include:

• The container was killed by a signal. This is the most common cause of a container exiting with a non-zero exit code 137. Signals are sent to containers to terminate them, and a signal with a value of 137 will cause the container to exit with a non-zero exit code.
• The container ran out of memory. If a container runs out of memory, it will be killed by the kernel. This will cause the container to exit with a non-zero exit code 137.
• The container was terminated by the user. The user can terminate a container by using the `docker stop` command. This will cause the container to exit with a non-zero exit code 137.
• The container encountered an error. If a container encounters an error, it will exit with a non-zero exit code. The specific exit code will vary depending on the error.

How to troubleshoot a container that exited with a non-zero exit code 137

If a container exits with a non-zero exit code 137, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the issue.

• Check the logs. The first thing you should do is check the logs for the container. The logs will contain information about the container’s termination, including the reason why it exited.
• Inspect the container. You can use the `docker inspect` command to inspect the container. This will give you more information about the container’s state, including its memory usage and CPU usage.
• Recreate the container. If you can’t find the cause of the issue, you can try recreating the container. This will give you a clean slate to work with.

A non-zero exit code 137 indicates that the container did not terminate successfully. There are a number of possible causes for this, including the container being killed by a signal, running out of memory, being terminated by the user, or encountering an error. If you encounter a container that exited with a non-zero exit code 137, you can troubleshoot the issue by checking the logs, inspecting the container, and recreating the container.

How to troubleshoot a container that exited with a non-zero exit code 137?

When a container exits with a non-zero exit code, it means that the container encountered an error and did not complete successfully. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:

• A programming error in the container’s code.
• A configuration error in the container’s environment.
• A problem with the underlying infrastructure.

To troubleshoot a container that exited with a non-zero exit code, you will need to first identify the cause of the error. There are a few ways to do this:

• Inspect the container’s logs. The logs will contain information about the container’s startup and runtime, and may provide clues as to what went wrong.
• Use the `docker inspect` command to get information about the container’s state. This command will show you the container’s PID, image, and other metadata.
• Use the `docker ps` command to get a list of all running containers. This command will show you the containers’ IDs, names, and status.

Once you have identified the cause of the error, you can take steps to fix it. If the error is due to a programming error, you will need to fix the code in the container’s image. If the error is due to a configuration error, you will need to update the container’s environment. If the error is due to a problem with the underlying infrastructure, you will need to contact your system administrator.

Here are some additional tips for troubleshooting containers that have exited with a non-zero exit code:

• Use the `docker logs` command to get a detailed view of the container’s logs. This command will show you the container’s startup logs, as well as any logs that were generated during the container’s runtime.
• Use the `docker inspect` command to get information about the container’s state. This command will show you the container’s PID, image, and other metadata.
• Use the `docker ps` command to get a list of all running containers. This command will show you the containers’ IDs, names, and status.
• Use the `docker top` command to get a list of the processes running inside the container. This command will show you the processes’ IDs, names, and CPU and memory usage.
• Use the `docker exec` command to run a command inside the container. This command can be used to debug the container’s code or to troubleshoot problems with its configuration.

By following these tips, you can troubleshoot containers that have exited with a non-zero exit code and identify the cause of the error.

How to prevent containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code

There are a number of things you can do to prevent containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code. Here are a few tips:

• Write your code carefully. Make sure that your code is free of errors and that it handles all possible scenarios.
• Test your code thoroughly. Test your code in a variety of environments and with a variety of data.
• Use the appropriate container image. Choose a container image that is well-maintained and has been tested in a variety of environments.
• Configure your container environment correctly. Make sure that your container has the correct permissions, resources, and dependencies.
• Monitor your containers. Monitor your containers for errors and take action to correct them as soon as possible.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code.

Here are some additional tips for preventing containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code:

• Use a container orchestration tool. A container orchestration tool can help you to manage your containers and to ensure that they are running correctly.
• Use a container health check. A container health check can be used to check the status of your containers and to take action if they are not healthy.
• Use a container monitoring tool. A container monitoring tool can help you to track the performance of your containers and to identify any problems.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code and ensure that your applications are running smoothly.

Q: What does it mean when a container exits with a non-zero exit code 137?

A: An exit code of 137 indicates that the container was terminated by a signal. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as:

• The container was killed by the `SIGKILL` signal.
• The container was killed by the `SIGTERM` signal and did not exit cleanly.
• The container ran out of memory and was terminated by the kernel.

Q: How can I troubleshoot a container that exited with a non-zero exit code 137?

A: Here are a few things you can check:

• Check the logs of the container to see if there are any errors.
• Check the system logs to see if there are any errors that occurred around the time the container was terminated.
• Use the `ps` command to see if there are any other processes that are using up a lot of memory or CPU.
• If you are using Docker, you can use the `docker inspect` command to get more information about the container, such as its memory usage and CPU usage.

Q: How can I prevent containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code 137?

A: Here are a few things you can do:

• Make sure that your container is configured to use the correct amount of memory and CPU.
• Use a health check to monitor the health of your container and restart it if it becomes unhealthy.
• Use a process manager to manage the processes in your container and ensure that they are terminated cleanly.
• Use a container orchestration tool to manage the lifecycle of your containers and ensure that they are restarted if they are terminated.

Q: What are some common mistakes that can lead to containers exiting with a non-zero exit code 137?

A: Here are a few common mistakes:

• Using too much memory or CPU in your container.
• Not using a health check to monitor the health of your container.
• Not using a process manager to manage the processes in your container.
• Not using a container orchestration tool to manage the lifecycle of your containers.

By following these tips, you can help prevent containers from exiting with a non-zero exit code 137.

In this blog post, we discussed the common causes of container exit codes 137 and how to troubleshoot them. We also provided a few tips on how to prevent containers from exiting with this error code.

If you are still experiencing problems with container exit codes 137, you can reach out to the Kubernetes community for help. The Kubernetes community is a valuable resource for Kubernetes users of all levels of experience.