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How to free space on the /var directory

September 14, 2023

Contributed by:

C S

The following article explains how an administrator can free the space from the /var directory of a NetScaler appliance. You can follow the steps when the GUI is not accessible.

When the amount of disk space is low in the /var directory of the appliance, you might not be able to sign in to the GUI. In this scenario, you can remove the old log files to create free space in the /var directory.

Points to remember

Ensure that you back up the files before removing the files from the appliance.

To free space in the /var directory of a NetScaler appliance, complete the following procedure:

Log on to the CLI of NetScaler by using SSH. For more information to complete this task, see the NetScaler Documentation.
After you log on to the NetScaler CLI, switch to the shell prompt using the following command. shell
Run the following command to see the availability of space on the NetScaler appliance. df -h

If the memory capacity of the /var directory is filled up to 90 percent, then you must delete few files from this directory.

Run the following commands to view the contents of the /var directory: cd /var ls -l

The directories that are usually of interest are as follows:

/var/nstrace - This directory contains trace files.This is the most common reason for HDD being filled on the NetScaler appliance. This is due to an nstrace being left running for indefinite amount of time. All traces that are not of interest can and should be deleted. To stop an nstrace, go back to the CLI and issue stop nstrace command.

/var/log - This directory contains system specific log files.

/var/nslog - This directory contains NetScaler log files.

/var/tmp/support - This directory contains technical support files, also known as, support bundles. All files not of interest should be deleted.

/var/core - Core dumps are stored in this directory. There will be directories within this directory and they will be labeled with numbers starting with 1. These files can be quite large in size. Clear all files unless the core dumps are recent and investigation is required.

/var/crash - Crash files, such as process crashes are stored in this directory. Clear all files unless the crashes are recent and investigation is required.

/var/nsinstall -  Firmware is placed in this directory when upgrading. Clear all files, except the firmware that is currently being used.

Verify if any of the directories are using more space:

du -hs *
44k    cache
2.0k    clusterd
2.0k    configdb
6.0k    core
989M    crash
4.0k    cron
2.0k    dev
6.0k    download
2.0k    gui
2.0k    install
2.0k    krb
2.0k    learnt_data
122M    log
366M    NetScaler
14k    ns_gui
86k    ns_sys_backup
631M    nsinstall
883M    nslog
32k    nsproflog
2.0k    nssynclog
16k    nstemplates
36k    nstmp
4.5G    nstrace
8.1M    opt
6.0k    pubkey
52k    run
28M    safenet
72M    tmp
2.0k   vmtools
14k    vpn

Delete the files which are not required:
```
 rm -r nstrace/*
```
For more help on deleting files see FreeBSD Man Pages.
- Delete the files which are not required. rm -r nstrace/* For more help on deleting files see FreeBSD Man Pages.
- If the log or nslog directory is using more space, then run the following commands to open the log directory and view its contents:
```
 cd /var/log
 ls -l
 cd /var/nslog
 ls -l
```

Ensure that all files are compressed. This is indicated by the .tar.gz file name extension.

If the file is not compressed, perform the following:

For compressing the file to .gz format:
```
 cd /var/log
 gzip <filename>
```
Compressed file is placed at /var/log

For compressing the file to .tar.gz format:
```
 cd /var/nslog
 tar -cz <filename>.tar.gz <filename>
```
Compressed file is placed at /var/nslog
If you are using NetScaler Console, then verify the /var/ns_system_backup directory. Ensure that NetScaler Console clears the backup files it creates.

More resources

For information on any of the commands mentioned in the preceding procedure, see http://ss64.com/bash/.

The official version of this content is in English. Some of the Cloud Software Group documentation content is machine translated for your convenience only. Cloud Software Group has no control over machine-translated content, which may contain errors, inaccuracies or unsuitable language. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, suitability, or correctness of any translations made from the English original into any other language, or that your Cloud Software Group product or service conforms to any machine translated content, and any warranty provided under the applicable end user license agreement or terms of service, or any other agreement with Cloud Software Group, that the product or service conforms with any documentation shall not apply to the extent that such documentation has been machine translated. Cloud Software Group will not be held responsible for any damage or issues that may arise from using machine-translated content.

How to free space on the /var directory

September 14, 2023

Contributed by:

C S

September 14, 2023

Contributed by:

C S

How to free space on the /var directory

Points to remember

More resources

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