InfluxDB ERR: invalid retention policy duration

The specified retention policy duration is not valid.

Understanding InfluxDB

InfluxDB is a powerful time-series database designed to handle high write and query loads. It is commonly used for monitoring, analytics, and real-time data processing. InfluxDB allows users to define retention policies to manage how long data is stored, ensuring efficient use of storage resources.

Identifying the Symptom

When working with InfluxDB, you might encounter the error message: ERR: invalid retention policy duration. This error typically appears when attempting to create or modify a retention policy with an incorrect duration format.

Explaining the Issue

The error ERR: invalid retention policy duration indicates that the duration specified for the retention policy is not in a valid format. InfluxDB requires durations to be specified in a specific syntax, such as '7d' for seven days or '1h' for one hour. Incorrect formats or unsupported units can trigger this error.

Common Mistakes

  • Using unsupported time units.
  • Incorrect syntax, such as missing the unit (e.g., '7' instead of '7d').
  • Typographical errors in the duration string.

Steps to Fix the Issue

To resolve the ERR: invalid retention policy duration error, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify the Duration Format

Ensure that the duration is specified in a valid format. InfluxDB supports the following time units:

  • s - seconds
  • m - minutes
  • h - hours
  • d - days
  • w - weeks

Example of a valid duration: 7d for seven days.

Step 2: Modify the Retention Policy

Use the following command to create or alter a retention policy with the correct duration:

CREATE RETENTION POLICY "policy_name" ON "database_name" DURATION 7d REPLICATION 1

Replace "policy_name" and "database_name" with your specific policy and database names.

Step 3: Validate the Change

After making changes, verify the retention policy using:

SHOW RETENTION POLICIES ON "database_name"

This command will list all retention policies for the specified database, allowing you to confirm the duration is set correctly.

Additional Resources

For more detailed information about retention policies in InfluxDB, refer to the official InfluxDB documentation.

For troubleshooting other common errors, visit the InfluxDB troubleshooting guide.

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