Blue Iris no longer respecting storage limits

[perfect777]

I've been running Blue Iris v5.6.8.1 since July 2023. I have about 25 cameras and they record to different locations.

"New" clips are stored on a 1TB local drive (C) and is set to limit size to 500GB. Once that 500GB limit is met, the clips should be moved to the "Stored" location (a 3TB internal HD):



One the 3TB D drive, the "Stored" files should be deleted after they meet the 2TB limit size.


Over the last month, I've noticed that my "New" storage location fills up and up until it completely maxes out my 1TB local C drive. At this point, the database file (which is also stored on C) cannot actually write / copy, and all new clips are not stored. I don't understand why BI isn't moving the clips after they reach the 500GB limit. This worked flawlessly for 20 months, but hasn't worked properly since my Extended updates expired in February. Is this related?

I have to keep logging onto my BI server and deleting the "New" clips on the C drive in order for clips to start recording again. I've done this several times as it only takes about 1 week to fill up at the rate I collect the clips.

What can I do to fix this? I would upgrade, but I'm not able to download/install the latest upgrade since I'm not subscribed anymore...

 

[biggen]

It’s possible you have open clips being written when you are hitting the physical storage limit of your drive. Storage cleanup and maintenance happens at certain intervals(not sure what they are) so you may be simply running out of storage BEFORE maintenance has time to perform the deletes. Im assuming you have roughly 500MB of storage being used on that same drive that isn’t related to BI (e.g. OS and other programs). Have you tried just backing down the 500MB limit to something like 450 or 400MB?

Is there any particular reason you want to move clips from drive A to B? You are only using 2/3 of that 3TB drive currently. Why not increase the storage setting there to something like 2950MB and just use it as New so you don’t write anything at all to the C:\ drive?

 

[perfect777]

It’s possible you have open clips being written when you are hitting the physical storage limit of your drive. Storage cleanup and maintenance happens at certain intervals(not sure what they are) so you may be simply running out of storage BEFORE maintenance has time to perform the deletes. Im assuming you have roughly 500MB of storage being used on that same drive that isn’t related to BI (e.g. OS and other programs). Have you tried just backing down the 500MB limit to something like 450 or 400MB?

Is there any particular reason you want to move clips from drive A to B? You are only using 2/3 of that 3TB drive currently. Why not increase the storage setting there to something like 2950MB and just use it as New so you don’t write anything at all to the C:\ drive?

I have 850GB free on my main C drive - but I'm only allocating 500GB for the "New" storage. I don't think it's a case of running out of storage BEFORE maintenance has time to perform the deletes (unless this is a very slow process that takes days to initiate). I could move it all to the 3TB "D" drive, but this used to work just fine.

 

[tigerwillow1]

Just in case this applies, I've found that if a BI settings menu is left displayed, BI will blow right through the storage limits. I don't have a list of which menus, but know for sure if you leave the storage window open it happens for sure, on my version at least.

 

[Flintstone61]

Storing anything on the C drive other than windows and Blue Iris and the database and alert folder is not recommended.
Free space on C is always shrinking on most PC's over time. Updates, Logs, etc.
there is no advantage to doing what your are doing.
Just write all the cam streams to dedicated surveillance rated drives.
E: is a carbon copy of C or a Clone. 2x a day to another SSD.


T

 

[CCTVCam]

Make sure as well you have maintenance set. I have my database set to repair daily. Most set it to weekly. This can also avoid many storage issues as it corrects errors on the database.

Also, have you checked "C" drive for integrity? Do you have SMART Disc Health reporting set up?

One possibility that's screaming out at me is that maybe parts of your C drive are failing so the PC is writing to other sectors which might explian why the whole storage is being used up if large areas are no longer good as these will have been marked by the system as bad sectors and no longer to be written to. Try running a non destructive disc checking utility (most hard drive manufacturers have them to download). Also if it's an SSD, note these aren't great at being repeatedly written to. It could be your issue is disc failure. This is 1 major reason why it's never recommended to write footage to the C drive.