mhegge Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 I have v8 Server running on my Xserve Intel. Ever since I started using this version, my boot disk pace has been dwindling. I save catalogs on an external RAID. I am not running any print services on OS X Server (Leopard) nor is that boot drive sharing any files. My boot drive is down to 1.74 GB (its a 80GB drive) and each event lowers the disk space more. I have run scripts to see what is on the drive and itinial visuals do not add up. Running fsevent now, but not sure how to interpret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhwalker Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 (edited) You might want to try something like WhatSize to locate the space hogs on your disk: WhatSize fseventer is good, but only shows the fsevent syscalls as they happen. That makes it a bit difficult to figure out which files are growing unbounded, and really is only the right tool to use when you are trying to figure out what files are being created or modified, etc., by an installer, so that you can create an installation package (or radmind build, etc.). Russ Edited June 8, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayoff Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 The catalogs are saved to the startup disk. Are they getting really big? Have you accidentally backed up onto that disk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 My catalogs have been set to save on the external XRAID, not the startup disk. File is only 1.3 GB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maser Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 how big is /var/vm? Maybe your are spawning really large VM files for some reason? Does your disk space free up if you restart the server? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 /car/vm is at 5GB not significant enough to be an issue. Disc space does not change after restart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallMeDave Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 I like GrandPerspective for this sort of thing: http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thanks but I am not seeing the value in this program in resolving why Retrospect is causing this to the boot drive of my server. I have another Leopard server NOT running Retrospect and this is not happening. I left the server with 1.75GB remaining last evening. This morning it has 1.43GB. Again, this boot drive is not sharing any files, this server is not print serving. It is just a OD Master, running Retrospect v8 and sharing files on an XRAID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayoff Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Retrospect may be caching data to disk during a backup. We do require between 5 and 10 GB of free space on the startup disk for each execution activity you are running. In general, the Mac will be much happier with more free disk space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I have ONE script running. Is that considered one activity? If the program keeps using up disk space and not dumping the cache, how is this a good thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayoff Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Have you found what directory is growing? What files specifically are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 No, I do not know what directory is growing, nor what files they are. It's like finding a needle in a haystack I am looking into software update server as being a factor but without the specific paths of the files Retrospect creates, I cannot rule it out as a factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayoff Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Check the library\application support\Retrospect and the files/folders inside of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallMeDave Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I am not seeing the value in this program in resolving why Retrospect is causing this to the boot drive of my server. For true? You don't? The programs suggested can be used to investigate disk use, by file, by directory, over time. They are _designed_ to do exactly what you're asking to do. I have another Leopard server NOT running Retrospect and this is not happening. Ipso Facto, eh? left the server with 1.75GB remaining last evening I just want to be clear about your report; this 1.75 GB takes into account the mystery space usage, yes? That without Retrospect you'd be keeping 8 to 10 GB minimum free on your OS X server? And at this point you do consider under 2GB free space on an OD Master server to be a critical, dangerous and jaw dropping edge to be playing on, no? I am looking into software update server as being a factor... But you have "another Leopard server NOT running Retrospect," and that machine is also running Software Update Server, right? Right? It's like finding a needle in a haystack Yes. And GrandPerspective and WhatSize are like metal detectors to sweep over that haystack. But while a high quality Fisher can easily run you $600, GrandPerspective is open source and free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I am not seeing the value in this program in resolving why Retrospect is causing this to the boot drive of my server. For true? You don't? The programs suggested can be used to investigate disk use, by file, by directory, over time. They are _designed_ to do exactly what you're asking to do. I understand they give insight into what may be causing the problem on disk usage, but specific to where files related to Retrospect are, no. I have another Leopard server NOT running Retrospect and this is not happening. Ipso Facto, eh? Yes, the other xserve (OD duplicate) is running the same serves with acception to MySQL. It is running the older Retrospect 6 backing up mail data to an external. That boot drive has 43.6GB left on it. left the server with 1.75GB remaining last evening I just want to be clear about your report; this 1.75 GB takes into account the mystery space usage, yes? That without Retrospect you'd be keeping 8 to 10 GB minimum free on your OS X server? And at this point you do consider under 2GB free space on an OD Master server to be a critical, dangerous and jaw dropping edge to be playing on, no? 1.75 GB left on the boot drive as displayed by the OS. The software gives a warning when the boot disk space drops below 1.5GB, so yes, it is a concern. I am looking into software update server as being a factor... But you have "another Leopard server NOT running Retrospect," and that machine is also running Software Update Server, right? Right? Not running Retrospect v8 and not running Software Update Server It's like finding a needle in a haystack Yes. And GrandPerspective and WhatSize are like metal detectors to sweep over that haystack. But while a high quality Fisher can easily run you $600, GrandPerspective is open source and free. I will purchase WhatSize in order to overcome the 20GB limitation in the demo. GrandPerspective however, pretty colors yes, but a straight forward report and info, no. Appreciate the help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 (edited) This is the: Check the library\application support\Retrospect and the files/folders inside of it. Edited June 9, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayoff Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 What is the total size of that folder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 212MB total Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallMeDave Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 the other xserve (OD duplicate) is running the same serves with acception to MySQL. Not running Retrospect v8 and not running Software Update Server Ok; I guess we have a different idea of the meaning of "same" and "acception" (sic) Since you're an OS X Server administrator running more advanced configurations on higher end iron then I've ever used, I'm sure you're aware that the Software Update Server's job in life is to download Apple's update packages and make them available to machines on your LAN. Those packages take up space, potentially lots and lots of it. So Machine A is running Retrospect 8 and the Software Update Server. It is experiencing unexpected disk usage. Machine B is not running Retrospect 8 nor is it running the Software Update Server. It is not experiencing the same unexpected disk usage. I can't even think of a non-snarky way to make my point, so I'll just sincerely suggest that the issue is much more likely being caused by OS X Server then by Retrospect 8 (all things (such as the potential for user error) being equal). Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhegge Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 (edited) Snarky...funny word I have been trying to remove all the old updates in the software update server database. Apple does not make it easy as if you do not turn the damn thing off, it just starts downloading 3 year old updates again. Now that I have that turned off, I can try and restore some pride here and see what is what. The timing of it all lead me to believe at first that retrospect was the cause of the issue, as I just started using v8 in recent months and was a beta tester as well. Re-grouping here...drink some coffee... Edited June 10, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.