The error message “failed to start daemon: error while opening volume store metadata database
(/var/lib/docker/volumes/metadata.db): timeout” typically occurs when the Docker engine is unable to start the daemon due to a timeout while opening the volume store metadata database.
The volume store metadata database is where Docker stores information about the volumes used by containers. This error suggests that there may be an issue accessing or initializing this database.
There are several potential causes for this error, including:
- Database file corruption or permission issues: The metadata.db file may be corrupted or the permissions may not allow the Docker daemon to access it. In this case, you can try deleting the metadata.db file and restarting the Docker service. Docker will recreate the database file automatically.
- Resource limitations: If the host machine running Docker has limited resources, such as low disk space or high CPU/memory usage, it can cause timeouts when accessing the metadata database. In such cases, freeing up resources or upgrading the host machine’s hardware may resolve the issue.
- Network connectivity issues: Docker may be unable to connect to the database due to network problems. Ensure that the network connection is stable and the database server is accessible.
- Database corruption: If the metadata database itself is corrupted, it can cause the timeout error. In this scenario, you can try restoring the database from a backup or initializing it again.
Here’s an example of how you can delete the metadata.db file and restart Docker on a Linux-based system using the command line:
sudo rm /var/lib/docker/volumes/metadata.db
sudo systemctl restart docker
Keep in mind that the exact commands may vary depending on your operating system and Docker installation.