Error retrieving workspace: unauthorized using tfe provider

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Neha Bansal
  • Updated

Introduction

Problem: While using tfe_provider to create HCP Terraform related resources from a workspace present in HCP Terraform/ terraform and you are getting unauthorised error when triggering run.

 

Cause: While running a plan, you will get multiple errors like:

Error reading configuration of workspace ws-xxxx: unauthorized

OR 

Error retrieving workspace: unauthorized

 

This provider requires a HCP Terraform and Terraform Enterprise API token in order to manage resources. See Authentication above for more information.This error message is usually caused because of incorrect passed token.

  • the token used doesn't have sufficient permissions.

  • either the token is expired or value is not being received by variable token/TFE_TOKEN.

  • the user who triggered run doesn't have correct permissions.

Overview of possible solutions (if applicable)

Solutions:

  • The user should have `Manage Access` to workspace from where he is creating resource at organisation level and write access at workspace level. Here is the article related to permission model of HCP Terraform.

  • Validate by hardcoding the value in variable like below. If that fixes the issue, it means the value is not being received by variable if passed through nested input.
  • provider "tfe" {
    hostname = var.hostname # Optional, defaults to HCP Terraform `app.terraform.io`
    token = "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
    version = "~> 0.62.0"
    }

    # Create an organization
    resource "tfe_organization" "org" {
    # ...
    }
  • To check if token is valid or not by below commands. If invalid, this command will fail. Then, regenerate and pass the active token.
export TOKEN=<TFE_Token>

curl \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/vnd.api+json" \
  https://<TFE_URL>/api/v2/organizations/<Organization_Name>/workspaces

Please replace <TFE_URL> and <Organization_Name>

Outcome: You will be able to create HCP Terraform resources using tfe provider.

Additional Information: 

If you're still experiencing issues, please contact HCP Terraform Support by submitting a ticket through our support portal

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