More than a thousand same size files in my forum!

[aaraon]

Well just look the image.

Can I delete all this? Is a bug? Virus?

I really need a light here

[JBlaze]

Those are core dumps.

Core dumps are caused when multiple processes in php or Apache fail. They then dump with the data of what was running at the time and what failed. You can ask your host for a dump analysis and they can tell you where it failed.

Additionally, hostname lookups are known to cause core dumps on some server setups. Try disabling this in Admin -> Features and Options and see if that helps.

[aaraon]

Thanks JBlaze
I´ve disabled the hostname lookups lets see what happens.

Can I delete the core dumps files?

[JBlaze]

Thanks JBlaze
I´ve disabled the hostname lookups lets see what happens.

Can I delete the core dumps files?

I would keep them until your host can analyze them. After that, it is safe to delete them.

[MrPhil]

If you just got a core dump (core file) once in a great while, you could erase it. However, you're getting them so often that you really should get your host support on the case. For that, they will need at least a few core files to look at. You can tell them to go ahead and delete them all when they're done, or let you know when they're done and you'll delete them. Then hopefully there will be no more of them.

[Banthe]

I'm having the same problem! Over 47 GB of core files...I am at this moment trying to delete them but as fast as I can delete, they reappear? I contacted my host and they passed the buck back to SMF..... What do I do??? PLEASE HELP!!! Desperate!

[Arantor]

A core dump is happening because Apache+PHP is crashing for some reason. While in general cases that just shouldn't happen, there are a few rogue builds of PHP that SMF accidentally crashes.

I'd ask them to investigate; SMF is a script level application and should not be crashing lower level applications, suggesting a configuration or build problem.

[Banthe]

Hi Arantor,
I've just put another ticket into my host, and I hope that I will get some action this time (third attempt!). My host is 3ix in the states....ever heard of any issues with them b4?

[Arantor]

I've never used them myself, but a quick search of the hosting board suggests they are trouble.

[Banthe]

so I guess if they don't do something about this...I should look for a new host??? Any suggestions?

[Arantor]

Have a read of our hosting board; there's plenty of hosts on there and reviews from happy - and not so happy - customers.

[Banthe]

I'll check it out! Thanx

[MrPhil]

Even if your hosting service can't or won't help you investigate why PHP, MySQL, and/or Apache are continuously crashing, they at least owe you the courtesy of telling you which program is crashing. They can do that in about 5 minutes. That might give you a lead on where to look.  SMF should not be able to cause anything to crash, so it's likely a bug in PHP, MySQL, or Apache; or it's a system configuration problem. It's not doing them any good to have some process crashing over and over -- it's bound to be having a negative impact on performance and stability for other users. In the mean time, check all your error logs (system error log, SMF admin error log, PHP error_log, etc. files), to see if you can get an idea of who went south -- and why.