[linux-lvm] Doc or definition of max_archives setting for lvm.conf?

[Gary Eheman]

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.

[Zdenek Kabelac]

Post by Gary Eheman
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

[Gary Eheman]

Post by Zdenek Kabelac

Post by Gary Eheman
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?

[Zdenek Kabelac]

Post by Gary Eheman

Post by Zdenek Kabelac

Post by Gary Eheman
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?

retain_min - ensures this minimum number or archive for INDIVIDUAL vg is kept.
retain_days - minimum days.

So if you generate a lot of changes per day and you are not interested in long
term history - set retain_days i.e. to 7 (week).

It's worth to note - this history is kept *PER* vg name.

So if you generate a lot of different VG names - lvm2 tool is not tracking
other VGs then those used on command line.

You can obviously write some cron job - if you have some particular pattern of
VG names from tests you want to delete.

Also if you are not interested at archive at all - you could simply disable
archiving in lvm.conf (number of copies is kept in PV metadata ring buffer,
thought its use much less comfortable...)

We may introduce maybe some warning if the size of archive directory gets too
big and may influence performance - but its admin's task to clear them, since
LVM has no knowledge which archives are still important.

Zdenek