SAM Doctor

ERROR REFERENCE

AWS Glue cannot rename an existing catalog database

Glue rejected an UpdateDatabase request because the catalog name is immutable. Preserve the current name or create a replacement before changing permissions.

WHAT IT MEANS

The database name is not an updateable field

An error occurred (InvalidInputException) when calling the UpdateDatabase operation: Database cannot be renamed

The DatabaseInput.Name in the update must stay equal to the existing Glue catalog database name. Description, location, parameters, and other supported fields can be updated without changing that identity. This is a request validation error, not an IAM denial.

NEXT CHECK

Keep the catalog identity stable

  1. Read the current definition. Run aws glue get-database --name <database-name> in the same Region and CatalogId as the failed update.
  2. Remove the rename. Keep DatabaseInput.Name equal to the existing name while updating the description, location, parameters, or other intended fields, then retry.
  3. Use a replacement for a real rename. Create a new database, migrate or recreate its tables and consumers, and remove the old database only after dependencies are moved.

AUTOMATE THE TRIAGE

Keep the check in your normal workflow

SAM Doctor recognizes the exact Glue rename marker with high confidence. Runs locally; no AWS access, no log upload. 

python -m pip install sam-doctor
sam-doctor diagnose deployment.log --format markdown

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