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VMs / EC2 Disk Space Low

The available disk space on the VM/EC2 instance is below the defined threshold.

Understanding Prometheus and Its Purpose

Prometheus is an open-source systems monitoring and alerting toolkit originally built at SoundCloud. It is designed to record real-time metrics in a time series database, built using an HTTP pull model, with flexible queries and real-time alerting. Prometheus is widely used for monitoring cloud infrastructure, including VMs and EC2 instances, to ensure optimal performance and availability.

Symptom: Disk Space Low

The alert 'Disk Space Low' is triggered when the available disk space on a VM or EC2 instance falls below a predefined threshold. This alert is crucial as it helps prevent potential system failures or performance degradation due to insufficient disk space.

Details About the Disk Space Low Alert

When Prometheus detects that the disk space on a monitored instance is running low, it generates an alert to notify administrators or developers. This alert is typically configured with a threshold, such as 80% or 90% disk usage, to provide a warning before the disk is completely full. Running out of disk space can lead to application crashes, data loss, and other critical issues.

Why Disk Space Matters

Disk space is a finite resource on any server. When it runs low, the system may not be able to write new data, leading to application errors and potential data corruption. Monitoring disk space ensures that you can take proactive measures to prevent these issues.

Common Causes of Disk Space Issues

  • Accumulation of log files
  • Large temporary files
  • Data growth without proper archiving
  • Unnecessary files or outdated backups

Steps to Fix the Disk Space Low Alert

To resolve the 'Disk Space Low' alert, follow these actionable steps:

1. Identify Large Files and Directories

Use the following command to find large files and directories:

du -ah / | sort -n -r | head -n 20

This command lists the top 20 largest files and directories, helping you identify where disk space is being used.

2. Clean Up Unnecessary Files

Remove unnecessary files, such as old log files or temporary files. For example, to clear log files, you can use:

sudo rm -rf /var/log/*.log

Ensure that you only delete files that are no longer needed.

3. Increase Disk Size

If cleaning up files is not sufficient, consider increasing the disk size. For EC2 instances, you can modify the instance's volume size through the AWS Management Console. Follow the AWS guide on expanding EBS volumes for detailed instructions.

4. Implement Monitoring and Alerts

Set up monitoring and alerts to proactively manage disk space. Use Prometheus to create alerts that notify you before disk space becomes critically low. Refer to the Prometheus alerting documentation for guidance on setting up alerts.

Conclusion

By understanding and addressing the 'Disk Space Low' alert, you can maintain the health and performance of your VMs and EC2 instances. Regular monitoring and proactive management of disk space are essential practices for any cloud infrastructure.

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