bitcoind debug log file is growing without limit #31795

1. 
   embetrix commented at 5:20 pm on February 4, 2025: none

   Is there an existing issue for this?

   • I have searched the existing issues

   Current behaviour

   when setting bitcoind log file in bitcoin.conf:

   debuglogfile=/var/run/bitcoin/bitcoind.log

   the file is just growing without a limit

   Workaround:

   debuglogfile=/dev/null

   Expected behaviour

   the file should rollback to 0 if a specified limit or predefined limit size is reached i.e :

   debuglogfile_size=16 (in MB)

   Steps to reproduce

   NA

   Relevant log output

   No response

   How did you obtain Bitcoin Core

   Compiled from source

   What version of Bitcoin Core are you using?

   all

   Operating system and version

   Linux

   Machine specifications

   No response

2. 
   pinheadmz commented at 6:01 pm on February 4, 2025: member

   The log file gets truncated when you restart bitcoind. There have been proposals for pruning the log but I think the recommendation is just to use a manager on your own system:

   #24950 (comment)

   #22350 (comment)

3. 
   embetrix commented at 6:10 pm on February 4, 2025: none

   I’m using a raspberrypi with sdcard (1TB), I want to let my full node running and do not plan to restart my bitcoind everyday, this is unnecessary to use humongous amout of RAM or SDCard for the logs.

   I disabled now the debug by setting

   nodebuglogfile=1

   But I think that log rotation make sense.

4. 
   pinheadmz commented at 6:12 pm on February 4, 2025: member

   Please see the linked comments above. I think your issue is a duplicate and has been addressed many times already
5. 
   embetrix commented at 6:15 pm on February 4, 2025: none

   I saw the MRs but they were not merged
6. 
   pinheadmz commented at 6:18 pm on February 4, 2025: member

   but did you read the comments – the reason bitcoin core doesn’t manage its logs how you want
7. 
   embetrix commented at 6:21 pm on February 4, 2025: none

   it’s not how I want, it just make a sens to implement that if using a system with restricted ressources and have in mind that not all bitcoin nodes are powerful PCs.
8. 
   maflcko commented at 11:34 pm on February 4, 2025: member

   https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/18857/how-to-limit-the-debug-log-file-while-running-bitcoind

   Usually the issue tracker is used to track technical issues related to the Bitcoin Core code base.

   General bitcoin questions and/or support requests are best directed to the Bitcoin StackExchange or the #bitcoin IRC channel on Libera Chat, or one of the Bitcoin subreddits, or any other place that you feel is well suited.

9. pinheadmz closed this on Feb 5, 2025

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10. maflcko added the label Questions and Help on Feb 5, 2025

Contributors
embetrix pinheadmz maflcko

Labels
Questions and Help