var filesystem 100% can't login, need help

acascianelli · 02-17-2009, 09:28 AM

I have a Linux server with a var filesystem at 100% usage. I cannot get logged in to this machine to clear out files. Does anybody have any ideas short of a reboot to get logged into this system?

datopdog · 02-17-2009, 09:49 AM

You should still be able to login even if the partition is full.

acascianelli · 02-17-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datopdog

You should still be able to login even if the partition is full.

Nope, console just hangs.

datopdog · 02-17-2009, 09:56 AM

something else should be wrong, u could try running commands (delete old logs or useless files) via ssh without logging in

Code:

ssh hostname 'rm -rf /var/log/messages.{2,3,4,5}'

druidmatrix · 02-17-2009, 07:54 PM

I have a feeling some sort of blocking write may be preventing you from logging in. What I'd advice is to boot into rescue mode, mount the disk, and clear up space on /var and whatever else may be full.

anomie · 02-17-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by druidmatrix

What I'd advice is to boot into rescue mode, mount the disk, and clear up space on /var and whatever else may be full.

That's what I would do as well. (Except replace "rescue mode" with "single-user mode"; either is fine. It may be that the rescue cd provides a more robust working environment.)

syg00 · 02-17-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acascianelli

Nope, console just hangs.

If it's ext[234], login as root. Unless you changed the default at mkfs, the reserved space should allow root login.

prakashmudalagiri · 05-08-2019, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acascianelli

I have a Linux server with a var filesystem at 100% usage. I cannot get logged in to this machine to clear out files. Does anybody have any ideas short of a reboot to get logged into this system?

You can login from any other machine with ssh enabled(passwordless) user and clear the logs.

syg00 · 05-08-2019, 05:38 PM

The last post was over 10 years ago - the original poster obviously no longer has an issue. Please don't revive long-dead threads for no useful purpose.

TB0ne · 05-19-2019, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prakashmudalagiri

You can login from any other machine with ssh enabled(passwordless) user and clear the logs.

And to add to what syg00 said, this is also bad/incorrect. If you can't get logged in locally, what on earth makes you think you can log in over the network? It starts a shell, same as if you logged in locally. It's still going to try to access /var, and can't. Plain bad advice.