Unraid Connect Error API Key: network_errornetwork: getaddrinfo ENOTFOUND

What This Error Means

This error typically occurs when Unraid Connect tries to authenticate or fetch data from Unraid’s online services but fails due to a DNS resolution issue. Specifically:

• getaddrinfo is a system call that converts domain names (like connect.myunraid.net) into IP addresses.
• ENOTFOUND means “Error Not Found,” indicating the hostname could not be resolved.
• The API key part suggests this is happening during the connection handshake with Unraid’s authentication server.

Common Causes of the Error

Here are the most frequent reasons for this error:

1. DNS Configuration Issue

• Your Unraid server may not be able to reach a working DNS server.
• Incorrect or missing DNS entries in Unraid’s network settings.

2. No Internet Access

• Unraid server isn’t connected to the internet.
• Router, modem, or ISP connectivity issue.

3. Firewall or Security Software

• A firewall (either on your server or network) may be blocking DNS or HTTPS traffic.
• Unraid Connect can’t reach https://connect.myunraid.net.

4. Custom Network Settings

• Use of custom DNS servers (like Pi-hole, AdGuard Home) that are misconfigured.
• Custom routing or VPN rules interfering with name resolution.

5. Temporary Outage

• Unraid servers or your DNS provider (like Google or Cloudflare) may be down temporarily.

How to Fix the Error

1. Check Network Connection

• Go to Settings > Network Settings in the Unraid web UI.
• Ensure your Unraid server has an assigned IP address and default gateway.
• Try pinging a public IP (e.g., ping 8.8.8.8) and a domain name (e.g., ping google.com) from the Unraid terminal.

2. Update DNS Settings

• In the Unraid web UI, go to Settings > Network Settings.
• Set a reliable DNS server:
  • Primary DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
  • Secondary DNS server: 8.8.4.4 or 1.0.0.1
• Click Apply, then restart networking or reboot.

3. Restart Unraid Connect

• Go to Settings > Management Access.
• Disable Unraid Connect, apply settings.
• Re-enable Unraid Connect, and re-enter your API key if necessary.

4. Verify Hostname Resolution

• Open the Unraid terminal or SSH in.
• Run: nslookup connect.myunraid.net
• If it fails, your DNS settings need to be corrected.

5. Check Firewall or Router

• Ensure that port 443 (HTTPS) is open for outbound traffic.
• Disable or reconfigure any restrictive outbound rules or DNS filters.

6. Update Unraid

• Make sure your Unraid OS is up to date.
• Updates can include network bug fixes or improved DNS handling.

Example Troubleshooting Commands (in terminal):

# Test internet connection
ping -c 4 8.8.8.8

# Test DNS resolution
ping -c 4 google.com

# Check DNS configuration
cat /etc/resolv.conf

# Manual DNS test
nslookup connect.myunraid.net

Additional Tips

• If you’re using a custom DNS server, try switching to a public one temporarily to isolate the issue.
• Check the Unraid forums or Reddit for others experiencing similar issues—it could be a regional DNS or API server problem.
• Consider checking your router’s DNS settings or updating its firmware if the problem persists across devices.

Conclusion

The “Unraid Connect error API key: network_errornetwork: getaddrinfo ENOTFOUND” is almost always related to DNS or internet connectivity issues on your Unraid server. Fortunately, it’s a fixable problem by adjusting DNS settings, checking network status, and rebooting services.

If you’re still facing issues after trying the above steps, feel free to share more details about your network setup, and I’ll help you troubleshoot further.