From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from mx1.redhat.com (ext-mx16.extmail.prod.ext.phx2.redhat.com [10.5.110.21]) by int-mx02.intmail.prod.int.phx2.redhat.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id s1BJJLcC009537 for ; Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:19:21 -0500 Received: from mail.funsoft.com (funsoft.funsoft.com [198.186.141.88]) by mx1.redhat.com (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id s1BJJFqP018958 for ; Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:19:16 -0500 Received: from [192.168.249.249] (unknown [192.168.249.249]) by mail.funsoft.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7D4ED11C3DC for ; Tue, 11 Feb 2014 11:19:01 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <52FA77A4.3040206@funsoft.com> Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:19:00 -0500 From: Gary Eheman MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <52FA492B.1050408@funsoft.com> <52FA575E.9040305@redhat.com> In-Reply-To: <52FA575E.9040305@redhat.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: [linux-lvm] Doc or definition of max_archives setting for lvm.conf? Reply-To: eheman@funsoft.com, LVM general discussion and development List-Id: LVM general discussion and development List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , List-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed" To: linux-lvm@redhat.com On 02/11/2014 12:01 PM, Zdenek Kabelac wrote: > Dne 11.2.2014 17:00, Gary Eheman napsal(a): >> There is an example syntax reference to a variable named "max_archives" in the >> man page for lvm.conf, but it does not provide a definition for the variable. >> The actual lvm.conf on my distribution contains no references or comments to >> enlighten me on the specifics for max_archives. While the variable name >> certainly gives me the clue that it is likely that not more than that many >> archive files would exist in the archive directory, can someone provide a more >> detailed description? >> >> Since I can make no assumptions on this system, is it the case that if the >> max_archives specified in lvm.conf is reached that the oldest archive is >> automatically deleted as the newest one is created? >> >> I have a lot of snapshot activity on the system where I want to implement >> max_archives, and the number of archives keeps growing. Naturally, I have not >> yet reached the retain_days number of days, but would like to keep the number >> of archives below a reasonable number before retain_days might be reached. > > > # Configuration of metadata backups and archiving. In LVM2 when we > # talk about a 'backup' we mean making a copy of the metadata for the > # *current* system. The 'archive' contains old metadata configurations. > # Backups are stored in a human readable text format. > backup { > > # Should we maintain a backup of the current metadata configuration ? > # Use 1 for Yes; 0 for No. > # Think very hard before turning this off! > backup = 1 > > # Where shall we keep it ? > # Remember to back up this directory regularly! > backup_dir = "/etc/lvm/backup" > > # Should we maintain an archive of old metadata configurations. > # Use 1 for Yes; 0 for No. > # On by default. Think very hard before turning this off. > archive = 1 > > # Where should archived files go ? > # Remember to back up this directory regularly! > archive_dir = "/etc/lvm/archive" > > # What is the minimum number of archive files you wish to keep ? > retain_min = 10 > > # What is the minimum time you wish to keep an archive file for ? > retain_days = 30 > } > > > Zdenek > > _______________________________________________ Yes, that section is precisely how my /etc/lvm/lvm.conf is coded. But it still does not tell me the answers to my questions. ls -ltr /etc/lvm/archive/ | wc -l 306 After 4 weeks of taking and deleting snapshots for the volumes that need to be backed up, I currently have 306 archive files. What is going to make the number of archive files decrease (or cease increasing beyond a ceiling) on this system automatically? -- Gary Eheman Fundamental Software, Inc. http://www.funsoft.com