Diagnose and fix Vast.ai common errors and exceptions. Use when encountering Vast.ai errors, debugging failed requests, or troubleshooting integration issues. Trigger with phrases like "vastai error", "fix vastai", "vastai not working", "debug vastai".
npxskills add jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills--skill vastai-common-errorsLoading…
Quick reference for the most common Vast.ai errors across CLI, REST API, and instance operations. Vast.ai uses HTTP status codes for API errors and instance status strings for machine-level issues.
pip install vastai)| HTTP Code | Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | Unauthorized | Invalid or missing API key | Verify with vastai show user; regenerate at cloud.vast.ai |
| 403 | Forbidden | Insufficient balance or permissions | Add credits; check account restrictions |
| 404 | Not Found | Instance or offer ID does not exist | Re-search offers; instance may have been destroyed |
| 409 | Conflict | Offer already rented by someone else | Search again and pick another offer |
| 429 | Rate Limited | Too many API requests | Wait 60s and retry with backoff |
| 500 | Server Error | Vast.ai platform issue | Check status.vast.ai; retry after 5 minutes |
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
loading | Docker image downloading | Wait; large images can take 5-10 min |
running | Instance ready | Connect via SSH |
exited | Container stopped | Check logs: vastai logs INSTANCE_ID |
error | Provisioning failed | Destroy and try a different offer |
offline | Host machine went down | Destroy; provision on a different host |
# Error: "No offers found"
# Cause: Filters too restrictive
# Fix: Relax filters
vastai search offers 'num_gpus=1 rentable=true' --limit 5 # broader search
# Error: "Insufficient funds"
# Fix: Check balance and add credits
vastai show user --raw | python3 -c "import sys,json; d=json.load(sys.stdin); print(f'Balance: \${d[\"balance\"]:.2f}')"
# Error: "Instance creation failed"
# Fix: Try a different offer or smaller disk
vastai create instance OFFER_ID --image ubuntu --disk 10
# Error: Instance stuck in "loading" for >10 minutes
# Cause: Very large Docker image or slow host internet
# Fix: Use smaller base images or pre-cached templates
# Good: pytorch/pytorch:2.2.0-cuda12.1-cudnn8-runtime (4GB)
# Bad: custom-image-with-everything:latest (30GB)
# Error: "Container exited immediately"
# Cause: Bad entrypoint or missing dependencies
# Fix: Check logs
vastai logs INSTANCE_ID --tail 50
# Error: "Connection refused" after instance shows "running"
# Cause: SSH server not yet started inside container
# Fix: Wait 30-60 seconds after status changes to running
# Error: "Permission denied (publickey)"
# Cause: SSH key not uploaded to Vast.ai
# Fix: Upload at cloud.vast.ai > Account > SSH Keys
# Error: "Host key verification failed"
# Fix: Use -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no for ephemeral instances
ssh -p PORT -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no root@HOST
# Error: "CUDA not available" inside container
# Cause: Docker image missing CUDA or driver mismatch
# Fix: Use NVIDIA-provided images with matching CUDA version
# Check host CUDA: vastai show instance ID --raw | jq '.cuda_max_good'
# Error: "CUDA out of memory"
# Cause: Model too large for GPU VRAM
# Fix: Search for more VRAM or reduce batch size
vastai search offers 'gpu_ram>=48 num_gpus=1' --order dph_total
| Category | Diagnostic Command |
|---|---|
| Auth issues | vastai show user |
| Instance status | vastai show instances |
| Instance logs | vastai logs INSTANCE_ID |
| Offer availability | vastai search offers 'rentable=true' --limit 5 |
| Balance check | vastai show user --raw | jq '.balance' |
For comprehensive debugging, see vastai-debug-bundle.
Instance won't start: Run vastai show instance ID --raw | jq '{actual_status, status_msg}' to get the status message. If error, destroy and reprovision on a different host.
Billing surprise: Run vastai show instances to check for forgotten running instances. Destroy any you're not using to stop charges.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Set up and use 1Password CLI (op). Use when installing the CLI, enabling desktop app integration, signing in (single or multi-account), or reading/injecting/running secrets via op.
CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Set up and use 1Password CLI (op). Use when installing the CLI, enabling desktop app integration, signing in (single or multi-account), or reading/injecting/running secrets via op.
CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).