Linkerd linkerd-proxy 411 length required

The server refuses to accept the request without a defined Content-Length.

Understanding Linkerd

Linkerd is a popular open-source service mesh designed to provide observability, security, and reliability to cloud-native applications. It acts as a transparent layer that manages communication between microservices, offering features like load balancing, failure handling, and traffic routing. For more information, visit the official Linkerd website.

Identifying the Symptom

When using Linkerd, you might encounter the error message: linkerd-proxy 411 length required. This error indicates that the server is refusing to process a request because it lacks a defined Content-Length header.

What You Observe

Typically, this error manifests when a client sends a request to a server through Linkerd, and the server responds with a 411 status code, indicating that the request is missing the Content-Length header.

Understanding the Issue

The HTTP 411 status code means "Length Required." It is a client error response indicating that the server refuses to accept the request without a defined Content-Length. This header is crucial for the server to understand the size of the request body, especially for methods like POST or PUT.

Why It Happens

This issue often arises when the client does not specify the Content-Length header in requests that include a body. Some servers are configured to reject such requests to prevent potential security risks or resource mismanagement.

Steps to Fix the Issue

To resolve the linkerd-proxy 411 length required error, you need to ensure that your client requests include a valid Content-Length header.

Actionable Steps

  • Identify the requests that are missing the Content-Length header. You can use tools like Postman or cURL to inspect the headers of your requests.
  • Modify your client application to include the Content-Length header in all requests that contain a body. For example, in a cURL command, you can specify the header as follows:

curl -X POST http://example.com/api -H "Content-Length: 123" -d "{\"key\":\"value\"}"

  • Ensure that the Content-Length value accurately reflects the size of the request body in bytes.
  • Test the modified requests to confirm that the 411 error is resolved.

Conclusion

By ensuring that your requests include a valid Content-Length header, you can prevent the linkerd-proxy 411 length required error and maintain smooth communication between your services. For further reading on HTTP headers, check out the MDN Web Docs.

Master

Linkerd

in Minutes — Grab the Ultimate Cheatsheet

(Perfect for DevOps & SREs)

Most-used commands
Real-world configs/examples
Handy troubleshooting shortcuts
Your email is safe with us. No spam, ever.

Thankyou for your submission

We have sent the cheatsheet on your email!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Linkerd

Cheatsheet

(Perfect for DevOps & SREs)

Most-used commands
Your email is safe with us. No spam, ever.

Thankyou for your submission

We have sent the cheatsheet on your email!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

MORE ISSUES

Made with ❤️ in Bangalore & San Francisco 🏢

Doctor Droid