Error initializing SparkContext with java.net.BindException

java.net.BindException is a common exception when Spark is trying to initialize SparkContext. This is especially a common error when you try to run Spark locally.

16/01/04 13:49:40 ERROR SparkContext: Error initializing SparkContext.

java.net.BindException: Can't assign requested address: Service 'sparkDriver' failed after 16 retries!
    at sun.nio.ch.Net.bind0(Native Method)
    at sun.nio.ch.Net.bind(Net.java:444)
    at sun.nio.ch.Net.bind(Net.java:436)
    at sun.nio.ch.ServerSocketChannelImpl.bind(ServerSocketChannelImpl.java:214)
    at sun.nio.ch.ServerSocketAdaptor.bind(ServerSocketAdaptor.java:74)
    at io.netty.channel.socket.nio.NioServerSocketChannel.doBind(NioServerSocketChannel.java:125)
    at io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel$AbstractUnsafe.bind(AbstractChannel.java:485)
    at io.netty.channel.DefaultChannelPipeline$HeadContext.bind(DefaultChannelPipeline.java:1089)
    at io.netty.channel.AbstractChannelHandlerContext.invokeBind(AbstractChannelHandlerContext.java:430)
    at io.netty.channel.AbstractChannelHandlerContext.bind(AbstractChannelHandlerContext.java:415)
    at io.netty.channel.DefaultChannelPipeline.bind(DefaultChannelPipeline.java:903)
    at io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel.bind(AbstractChannel.java:198)
    at io.netty.bootstrap.AbstractBootstrap$2.run(AbstractBootstrap.java:348)
    at io.netty.util.concurrent.SingleThreadEventExecutor.runAllTasks(SingleThreadEventExecutor.java:357)
    at io.netty.channel.nio.NioEventLoop.run(NioEventLoop.java:357)
    at io.netty.util.concurrent.SingleThreadEventExecutor$2.run(SingleThreadEventExecutor.java:111)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

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Reason

Most common reason is Spark is trying to bind to the localhost (that is your computer) for the master node and not able to do so.

Solution

Find the hostname of your computer and add it the /etc/hosts. 

Find hostname

hostname command will get you the hostname

[osboxes@wk1 ~]$ hostname
Wk1.hirw.com

Add hostname to hosts file

Add an entry to your /etc/hosts file like below

[osboxes@wk1 ~]$ cat /etc/hosts

127.0.0.1   wk1.hirw.com

If you are using Windows, hosts file will be under C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc 

By doing this when Spark ping 127.0.0.1 it will properly resolve to a hostname and will be able to bind to the address.