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    Unbound python mode in combination with pfBlockerNG wrote more than 40 TB (!) (was: What wrote 47 TB (!) in two years? 2.7.2)

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    • w0wW
      w0w @slu
      last edited by

      @slu
      Long-term monitoring of disk writes still showed that a significant portion of them is performed unbound. I'm not sure what percentage of the records are unbound, but it is clear that it's substantial, though I don't know how to track it precisely. The Samsung SSD 860 PRO 256GB drives are in a ZFS mirror, and 88% of the resource remains, which is generally non-critical, but...

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      • GertjanG
        Gertjan @slu
        last edited by Gertjan

        @slu said in Unbound python mode in combination with pfBlockerNG wrote more than 40 TB (!) (was: What wrote 47 TB (!) in two years? 2.7.2):

        Any hint to disable the logging?

        Just checking :

        0bef5076-93bd-4ba2-ab41-273ab7a766cb-image.png

        = unbound log level setting : Right ?

        Level 3 and above logs a lot, and is only useful for temporary debug sessions. Setting it back to '1' is not 'optional'.

        Btw : logs files, also the /var/log/resolver.log file, are rotated by pfSense.
        My pfBlockerng log files (most of them are here /var/unbound/var/log/pfblockerng) are also rotated.
        I've never, over a decade now, saw a Tbytes file size on my pfSense ...

        No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
        Edit : and where are the logs ??

        S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          slu @Gertjan
          last edited by slu

          @Gertjan said in Unbound python mode in combination with pfBlockerNG wrote more than 40 TB (!) (was: What wrote 47 TB (!) in two years? 2.7.2):

          = unbound log level setting : Right ?

          Yes setting is "Level 1", I tried also "Level 0" but unbound write anyway according to "top -m io".

          Edit:
          @Gertjan said in Unbound python mode in combination with pfBlockerNG wrote more than 40 TB (!) (was: What wrote 47 TB (!) in two years? 2.7.2):

          I've never, over a decade now, saw a Tbytes file size on my pfSense ...

          I do not have Tbytes file/log size on my pfSense, only see the SSD write TB's...

          pfSense Gold subscription

          w0wW 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • w0wW
            w0w @slu
            last edited by

            @slu
            I know this might not solve the root problem, but what about looking for a really long-lasting SSD? Maybe some of the older, reliable MLC or SLC variants? Which form factor do you have?

            S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              SteveITS Galactic Empire @w0w
              last edited by

              @slu Or perhaps a RAM disk.

              pfBlocker has some options that are on by default such as DNS Reply Logging to log all non-blocked queries (i.e. all valid DNS). Much like Suricata's HTTP request logging we disable that.

              Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
              When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
              Upvote ๐Ÿ‘ helpful posts!

              S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                slu @SteveITS
                last edited by

                @SteveITS said in Unbound python mode in combination with pfBlockerNG wrote more than 40 TB (!) (was: What wrote 47 TB (!) in two years? 2.7.2):

                pfBlocker has some options that are on by default such as DNS Reply Logging to log all non-blocked queries (i.e. all valid DNS).

                I tried to disable this settings and reload pfBlockerNG + reboot pfSense, but unbound write and write again in python mode.

                pfSense Gold subscription

                S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  SteveITS Galactic Empire @slu
                  last edited by

                  @slu I don't know, have not noticed high disk writes. I have seen posts over the years though...here are a couple.

                  https://www.reddit.com/r/pfBlockerNG/comments/13di9c2/dnsbl_python_mode_and_disk_writes/
                  https://forum.netgate.com/topic/165993/should-i-be-using-unbound-python-mode-is-it-stable

                  Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                  When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                  Upvote ๐Ÿ‘ helpful posts!

                  S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    slu @SteveITS
                    last edited by

                    @SteveITS
                    thanks @SteveITS for the links.

                    Still not sure whats the root cause for this massive writes on the SSD, maybe I'm on the wrong way with pfBlockerNG and Unbound Python mode...

                    pfSense Gold subscription

                    w0wW 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • w0wW
                      w0w @slu
                      last edited by

                      @slu
                      The settings can affect it. I just checked how often it updates. The Cron settings are set to once a day. This is probably significantly reducing the number of writes. Maybe there are some other settings that are affecting it as well.

                      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        slu @w0w
                        last edited by

                        New topic here to investigate the issue since pfBlockerNG is not the cause.
                        https://forum.netgate.com/topic/189820/how-do-i-find-out-what-write-continuously-on-my-pfsense-ssd

                        pfSense Gold subscription

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