npvr.db3 journal file constantly created and destroyed

[cncb]

I was looking at the NPVR data directory in Windows Explorer and noticed that a journal file for the database is created and destroyed every few seconds. The recording service is running but no recordings or playback are taking place. It seems like this will cause unnecessary activity on the SSD in my new server that I'm about to move to. Is there a reason why all these database operations are attempted (doesn't ever write to the database but creates the journal file anyways)?

[mvallevand]

sqlite is a transactional database and there a definitely disk writes of these journal and other temporary files created so that changes can be committed after record locks. I never noticed extreme use of the journal file but I will check now that you pointed it out.

NEWA (and if I remember even your widget) can generate a lot of disk activity, so I keep their use to "need to know". I also turn off NTray and even close NextPVR and NMT clients when I am not using them. I do wish that NextPVR allowed a silent mode with no logging, but sub and most plugin developers (myself included) treat NextPVR like it is in perpetual pre-production state, so we can get logs when needed.

Martin

[bgowland]

I was looking at the NPVR data directory in Windows Explorer and noticed that a journal file for the database is created and destroyed every few seconds.

What are the journal files called - I've been looking at my NPVR data directory for a few minutes now and can't see anything happening.

[mvallevand]

What are the journal files called - I've been looking at my NPVR data directory for a few minutes now and can't see anything happening.

npvr.db3-journal. They are temporary and hidden when records are locked so you usually need a file monitor (like Sysinternals ProcMon) to see them. Once in a blue moon, when I screw things up I've had to manually find it and delete it.

Martin

[cncb]

For me, they appear and then are destroyed right away so you have to look carefully. Perhaps you have to be showing hidden files too as Martin suggested.

[bgowland]

For me, they appear and then are destroyed right away so you have to look carefully. Perhaps you have to be showing hidden files too as Martin suggested.

By default all of my folder views are set to show hidden files but I suspect it could be down to my ageing system not being able to automatically update the view fast enough.

I can see the file access though when using FileMon (another SysInternals tool which pre-dates ProcMon). I'm seeing a lot of access every second which I agree doesn't bode well for an SSD - perhaps locating the NPVR data directory on an HDD would be the best idea.

Cheers,
Brian

[sub]

Which process does it indentify? nextpvr.exe or nrecord.exe?

I cant think of anything happening continually. Most database interaction is in response to the user requesting something or at scheduled times.

[mvallevand]

See my screenshot above, ProcMon identifies NRecord.exe

Martin

[Croftie]

I noticed this too the other day when I was using procmon for something else. Are you sure the writes are being done to the HDD and not to RAM instead? I have the folder open with F5 held down to refresh it constantly and the file never appears.

Wherever it is, it's been read/writen several times a second which seems a bit excessive but, maybe necessary I don't know.

[sub]

I've found the cause and fixed it for the next release. It was a bug introduce a couple of releases back, and related to purging old recording history.