GitLab CI Cache Download Failed

The job failed to download cache, possibly due to missing cache or network issues.

Understanding GitLab CI

GitLab CI/CD is a powerful tool integrated into GitLab that allows developers to automate the build, test, and deployment processes of their applications. It uses pipelines, which are defined in a .gitlab-ci.yml file, to streamline the continuous integration and continuous deployment processes. By leveraging GitLab CI, teams can ensure code quality and accelerate the delivery of software.

Identifying the Cache Download Failed Symptom

One common issue that developers may encounter when using GitLab CI is the 'Cache Download Failed' error. This error typically manifests during the execution of a job in the pipeline, where the job fails to download the necessary cache files. This can lead to longer build times or even job failures if the cache is critical for the job's execution.

What You Might See

In the job logs, you might see messages such as:

Downloading cache...
FATAL: file does not exist

or

Failed to extract cache

Exploring the Cache Download Failed Issue

The 'Cache Download Failed' error can occur due to several reasons. Primarily, it happens when the cache that a job is trying to download is either missing or inaccessible. This could be due to network issues, incorrect cache key usage, or the cache not being generated in previous jobs.

Common Causes

  • Cache not generated in previous jobs.
  • Incorrect cache key specified in the .gitlab-ci.yml file.
  • Network issues preventing access to the cache storage.

Steps to Resolve the Cache Download Failed Issue

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Cache Generation

Ensure that the cache is being generated in previous jobs. Check the job logs to confirm that the cache is being created successfully. You can add the following snippet to your .gitlab-ci.yml to generate cache:

cache:
key: "my-cache"
paths:
- path/to/cache

Step 2: Check Cache Key Consistency

Ensure that the cache key used in the job is consistent with the key used during cache generation. Mismatched keys will prevent the cache from being downloaded.

Step 3: Investigate Network Issues

If the cache is generated correctly and the keys match, check for any network issues that might be preventing access to the cache storage. Ensure that your runners have the necessary network access.

Additional Resources

For more detailed information on caching in GitLab CI, you can refer to the official GitLab CI Caching Documentation. Additionally, consider exploring the GitLab Runner Documentation for insights into runner configurations that might affect caching.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Cache Download Failed' issue and ensure that your GitLab CI pipelines run smoothly.

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