Error - Failed to Query Available Provider Packages does not match configured version constraint

Introduction

When working with Terraform, you may encounter that "terraform init" produces an error related to provider versions which does not match configured version constraint . This article provides insights into understanding and resolving the error message:

Problem

When running "terraform init," you may encounter the following error message:

Error: Failed to query available provider packages Could not retrieve the list of available versions for provider xxx/xxx: locked provider registry.terraform.io/xxx/xxx x.xx.x does not match configured version constraint ~> x.y.z, >= x.y.z, ~> x.y.z, < x.y.z; must use terraform init -upgrade to allow selection of new versions 

Cause

This error occurs due to a version constraint defined in your Terraform configuration between different modules. Terraform enforces version constraints to maintain compatibility between modules and providers. When these constraints are violated, you may encounter this error.

Solution

To resolve the "terraform init" error related to provider version constraints, follow these steps:

1. Check Your Provider Versions:

   • Review your Terraform configurations to ensure that you are using provider versions compatible with each other, ensuring they are between major upgrades only.
   • Each module in your configuration should align with a specific provider version it's tested on.

2. Ensure Consistency:

   • Modules within your configuration must use a common provider version to avoid conflicts. Inconsistent provider versions can lead to the error.
   • Try adding modules to root configuration one by one and use terraform init -upgrade to ensure newly added module is compatible with configuration.

3.  Testing each module with new provider versions:

   • Before upgrading or downgrading a provider version on each module if found to be incompatible in above step, test each module independently to ensure it functions as expected with the new version.
   • Upgrading/downgrading a provider version may alter resource arguments or configurations, potentially breaking existing code.

4. Upgrading Provider Versions:

   • If necessary, modify your Terraform configuration files to change the provider version.
   • Review provider documentation and release notes to understand potential breaking changes.

5. Using "terraform init -upgrade":

   • To enable Terraform to select new provider versions, use the -upgrade flag with terraform init. For example:
     terraform init -upgrade
     This flag allows Terraform to update provider versions according to your constraints.

As per the best practice for provider versions, which suggest to specify the minimum version at module and let the root module manage the maximum version.
 

Do not use ~> (or other maximum-version constraints) for modules you intend to reuse across many configurations, even if you know the module isn't compatible with certain newer versions. Doing so can sometimes prevent errors, but more often it forces users of the module to update many modules simultaneously when performing routine upgrades. Specify a minimum version, document any known incompatibilities, and let the root module manage the maximum version.

By following these steps and maintaining version compatibility, you can successfully resolve the "terraform init" error associated with provider versions, ensuring smooth deployments in your Terraform projects.

Additional Information

Reference Links :
https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/providers/requirements#best-practices-for-provider-versions

https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/expressions/version-constraints