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How can i remove obsolete Blob files

Updated: 21 May 2010 | 6 comments
stobler's picture
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This issue has been solved. See solution.

We use RS 6.2 SP3 with more than 1000 users.

System is working well, but I have the impression that Altiris does not delete "obsolete" Blob files from storage.
In our envoirment we use 2 disc shelf and a 2 shares on a NAS.
- Altiris can manage all files and have fully rights to the storages.
- Our data retention is temporary reduced to 3 months, to reduce the storage usage.
- If I run a "Integrity check" with all options, exclude "CRC check", then this take more then 7 day's.
After that, the "Delete Mark Items" Job and the "Server Space Management" take against several day's.

Bellow this action, I look to the storage and try to understand the following picture.

imagebrowser image

On the picture you can see, I look to the attribute "Date Modified", "Date Accessed" and "Date Created"
The selection are files with the oldest "Modified Date", and that view is sorted by "Data Accessed".
We can see, both dates are “old”.

“Old”, while our data retention is limited to 3 Month, and our last Integrity chek pass ago 5 day's.
So in minimum one of the "dates" have to be more current as xx.xx.2008.

So I’m not sure that Altirs recognize all Bloobfiles on the 4 Shares which we use.
I have the impression that there are still some death Bloobfiles (several hundert's) on our storage which use space, without, that they are real used.

Based on the that picture, if there a way to tell Altiris check all available blob files on all storage and delete the obsolete ?

Comments

kmccann's picture
24
Jun
2009
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This could be a normal

This could be a normal situation but it depends on the how much of the blob file is being used (% compacted), what the data is that it holds, and if the blobs have been moved to\from other storage locations.  If the blob files were left over from a storage transfer from one device to another without the diskfilevolume table being updated then they could become lost.  The SQL script in KB 44570 should be able to assess the status of these blob files.

https://kb.altiris.com/article.asp?article=44570&p=1

CJett's picture
24
Jun
2009
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Static data?

If your environment has a lot of static data, and you are running your SSM jobs with compaction regularly, that could explain the old modified dates on the BLOB files.  We run a failry large RS environment, and we've got BLOB files going back 4 months.  The reason for this is because those BLOB files contain data that does not change (such as OS files, installation files, etc).  As long as you are running your SSM jobs with compaction, and your IC job  with deletion, you should be ok.

The link above appears to be broken.  This KB article, https://kb.altiris.com/article.asp?article=25096&p=1, is the lost blob handling application and script.  This tool will verify the location and availability of all of your BLOB files, mark the ones that are not accessable, and remove them from the database.  Then, you simply need to go to your file store and remove the actual BLOB files.  Hope this helps.

KSchroeder's picture
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Jun
2009
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kmccann and CJett are

kmccann and CJett are correct, this is perfectly normal and expected.  Since the data in those BLOBs still exists on the client machines (Windows OS files, other program files, etc) then it won't get purged and the BLOB files will continue to hang around.

Thanks,
Kyle
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KSchroeder's picture
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Jul
2009
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stobler, DId kmccann or

stobler,
DId kmccann or CJett's comment help you?  If so, please select one of the replies as the Solution using the"Mark As Solution" link at the bottom of their post.

Thanks,
Kyle
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KSchroeder's picture
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Jul
2009
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stobler, Please update the

stobler,
Please update the thread and select a solution to close out this thread.  Else I will select CJett's suggestion since he/she provided some detailed information.

Thanks,
Kyle
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KSchroeder's picture
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Aug
2009
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CJett's comment set as the

CJett's comment set as the Solution.

Thanks,
Kyle
Symantec Trusted Advisor

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