[lug] ls -l /var/tmp = drwxrwxrwt 16 root root 1478656 Mar 19 10:38tmp

[D. Stimits]

Bob Collins wrote:
> 
> When I did as Sean suggested and ran "find /tmp | less", I
> got
> a much different output.  /tmp/kfm_500_2193BCollins_0.0 was
> typical of the 2198 lines that I get when I ran it.  I ran
> it without thinking.  I should have run "find /var/tmp |
> less".

kfm is probably KDE file manager, user Collins, display 0.0 in X11.

> 
> I was finally able to look inside /tmp with mc (midnight
> commander).  It shows 12 directories which have the
> structure /susehilf.xxxxxx where xxxxxx = upper and lower

susehilf is the suse help. The xxxxxx would be a temp file, kind of a
cookie ID. What are the permissions on one of these?

> case letters mixed with numbers.  The files date from August
> of 1999 until July of 2000.  I have been removing the oldest
> directory, /susehilf.vCR5nO for over an hour and a half.

rm -Rf susehilf.vCR5n0

> 
> The directory I was deleting is now deleted and I still show
> the same amount of free disk space as before I removed it.

Disk space consists of both actual space, and inodes, the inode
containing metadata about what node has the real data. If you run out of
inodes, it won't matter if no disk space is used, you would effectively
be out of disk at that point.

> 
> The real culprit is the approximately 73,600 "taper"
> temporary files (backup software).  I sent a note to the
> developer of taper ask if I did something wrong or if he has
> a fix for what happened.  The files are from a single backup
> of my system.

Probably it leaves the prior temp for incremental purposes, but that'd
only be a guess. Have you actually run backup 73,600 times over that
period?

> 
> I am interested in comments and ideas especially about the
> /susehilf.xxxxxx directories.  If the 11 directories each
> take an hour and forty minuets to delete, it would take a
> long time and they don't seem to take up much space.

rm -Rf susehilf.*

The suse help system is apparently making temp files. This could be from
the Apache server or some other source trying to display a help page.
Some programs are stupid, and if they crash and do not exit normally,
fail to clean up after themselves. It sounds like something is trying to
continuously bring up a help page (maybe even in German), and crashing,
possibly due to not finding the German version (or something along that
scenario, just something to make it exit abnormally). You should be able
to completely remove all of those without problem. It might be
interesting to watch how fast they reappear upon start of kde or
whatever X11 window manager you use. Try slowly opening applications you
use, and see when more susehilf.* appear.

> 
> --
>    Regards, Bob Collins
> People often find it easier to be a result of the past than
> a cause of the future.
> _______________________________________________
> Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> Mailing List: http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug