Introduction

The TestUC2001 – Metastore Not Found error in Databricks Unity Catalog typically occurs when a metastore has not been assigned to the workspace or the existing metastore configuration is invalid or corrupted. Unity Catalog requires a configured and assigned metastore to manage catalogs, schemas, and tables. Without a valid metastore, catalog-related commands like SHOW CATALOGS or USE CATALOG will fail.

🚨 Common symptoms of TestUC2001:

• Error: “TestUC2001 – Metastore not found for this workspace.”
• SHOW METASTORES; returns an empty result.
• Cannot create catalogs or manage tables in Unity Catalog.
• Jobs and notebooks fail when querying Unity Catalog tables.

Common Causes and Fixes for TestUC2001

1. No Metastore Has Been Configured for the Workspace

Symptoms:

• SHOW METASTORES; returns no results.
• Error: “No metastore is configured for this workspace.”

Causes:

• Metastore has not been created for Unity Catalog.
• The workspace is not linked to any existing metastore.

Fix:
✅ Check if a metastore exists:

SHOW METASTORES;

✅ If no metastore exists, create one:

databricks unity-catalog metastores create --region <region> --s3-bucket <s3-bucket-name>

✅ Assign the newly created metastore to your workspace:

databricks unity-catalog metastores assign --metastore-id <metastore-id> --workspace-id <workspace-id>

✅ Verify the assignment using:

SHOW METASTORES;

2. Incorrect Metastore Assignment or Workspace Configuration

Symptoms:

• Metastore exists but is not properly assigned to the workspace.
• Metastore ID mismatch when querying Unity Catalog.
• SHOW CATALOGS; fails with TestUC2001 error.

Causes:

• The metastore assignment was not completed successfully.
• Workspace configuration was not refreshed after metastore creation.

Fix:
✅ Reassign the metastore to your workspace:

databricks unity-catalog metastores assign --metastore-id <metastore-id> --workspace-id <workspace-id>

✅ Restart the Databricks workspace to apply changes.

✅ Ensure that the metastore assignment is successful:

SHOW METASTORES;

3. Missing Permissions to Access the Metastore

Symptoms:

• Error: “Permission denied while accessing the metastore.”
• Users cannot list catalogs, schemas, or tables.

Causes:

• User or service principal lacks access permissions to the Unity Catalog metastore.
• The workspace admin has not granted permissions to relevant users or groups.

Fix:
✅ Check the current permissions on the metastore:

databricks unity-catalog permissions get --metastore-id <metastore-id>

✅ Grant access to the required users or groups:

databricks unity-catalog permissions update --metastore-id <metastore-id> --principal user@example.com --permission-level OWNER

✅ Ensure service principals running jobs have the correct roles.

4. Corrupt or Deleted Metastore

Symptoms:

• Metastore existed earlier but is no longer accessible.
• Metastore metadata is corrupted or partially deleted.
• SQL commands fail with internal errors.

Causes:

• Misconfigured cloud storage for the metastore (S3, ADLS, or GCS).
• Accidental deletion of the metastore configuration.

Fix:
✅ Check metastore configuration and storage:

aws s3 ls s3://<metastore-storage-bucket>/_delta_log/

✅ If the metastore is corrupted, recreate it and assign it again:

databricks unity-catalog metastores create --region <region> --s3-bucket <s3-bucket-name>

✅ Restore the metastore from backups if available.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Verify If a Metastore Exists

SHOW METASTORES;

2. Check Metastore Assignment to the Workspace

databricks unity-catalog metastores get-assignment --workspace-id <workspace-id>

3. Ensure Correct Permissions

databricks unity-catalog permissions get --metastore-id <metastore-id>

4. Validate Cloud Storage for the Metastore

aws s3 ls s3://<bucket-name>/

Best Practices to Avoid TestUC2001 – Metastore Not Found Error

✅ Always Create and Assign a Metastore for Unity Catalog

• Ensure a valid Unity Catalog metastore is created and linked to your workspace.

✅ Use Proper IAM Roles and Permissions

• Grant workspace admins and relevant users access to the Unity Catalog metastore.

✅ Monitor Cloud Storage for Corruption or Deletion

• Regularly backup the metastore configuration and logs.

✅ Avoid Using Legacy Hive Metastore with Unity Catalog

• Migrate existing Hive Metastore tables to Unity Catalog.

Conclusion

The TestUC2001 – Metastore Not Found error occurs when Unity Catalog is not properly configured or assigned to a Databricks workspace. By creating and assigning a metastore, verifying permissions, and ensuring cloud storage configuration, you can resolve this error and enable seamless Unity Catalog operations.