core.xxxxx files

[ziycon]

I have a hosting package with SMF installed on it and its generating core.xxxxx files, the x's being random numbers. I have to delete them everyday, i can't fine where the issue is coming from, anyone any ideas on how i can deal with these core dump files?

 

[niall]

My money is on something in the SMF's install file structure, like a hanging symlink, causing backup software (possibly Ahsay) to choke. Download the file to a Linux/BSD box and run strings on it to see if there is any clue as to the program dumping the core file.

Niall.

 

[ziycon]

You couldn't explain more what you mean about the SMF install file structure!?

 

[niall]

You couldn't explain more what you mean about the SMF install file structure!?

The one thing I've seen screw up backups like that is when something like the following sequence is done:

touch file1 (create a file called file1)
ln -s file1 file2 (create a link from file2 to file1)
rm file1

When file1 is removed, file2 is still there but pointing to nothing. I have seen this break more than one piece of backup software.

Niall.