The transaction history log (THL) retains a copy of the SQL statements
from each Primary host, and it is the information within the THL that is
transferred between hosts and applied to the database. The THL
information is written to disk and stored in the
thl directory:
shell> ls -al /opt/continuent/thl/alpha/
total 2291984
drwxrwxr-x 2 tungsten tungsten 4096 Apr 16 13:44 .
drwxrwxr-x 3 tungsten tungsten 4096 Apr 15 15:53 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 0 Apr 15 15:53 disklog.lck
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100137585 Apr 15 18:13 thl.data.0000000001
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100134069 Apr 15 18:18 thl.data.0000000002
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100859685 Apr 15 18:26 thl.data.0000000003
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100515215 Apr 15 18:28 thl.data.0000000004
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100180770 Apr 15 18:31 thl.data.0000000005
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100453094 Apr 15 18:34 thl.data.0000000006
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100379260 Apr 15 18:35 thl.data.0000000007
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100294561 Apr 16 12:21 thl.data.0000000008
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100133258 Apr 16 12:24 thl.data.0000000009
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100293278 Apr 16 12:32 thl.data.0000000010
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100819317 Apr 16 12:34 thl.data.0000000011
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100250972 Apr 16 12:35 thl.data.0000000012
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100337285 Apr 16 12:37 thl.data.0000000013
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100535387 Apr 16 12:38 thl.data.0000000014
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100378358 Apr 16 12:40 thl.data.0000000015
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100198421 Apr 16 13:32 thl.data.0000000016
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100136955 Apr 16 13:34 thl.data.0000000017
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100490927 Apr 16 13:41 thl.data.0000000018
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100684346 Apr 16 13:41 thl.data.0000000019
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100225119 Apr 16 13:42 thl.data.0000000020
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100390819 Apr 16 13:43 thl.data.0000000021
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100418115 Apr 16 13:43 thl.data.0000000022
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 100388812 Apr 16 13:44 thl.data.0000000023
-rw-r--r-- 1 tungsten tungsten 38275509 Apr 16 13:47 thl.data.0000000024THL files are created on both the Primary and Replicas within the cluster. THL data can be examined using the thl command.
The THL is written into individual files, which are by default, no more than 1 GByte in size each. From the listing above, you can see that each file has a unique file index number. A new file is created when the file size limit is reached, and given the next THL log file number. To determine the sequence number that is stored within log, use the thl command:
shell> thl index
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000001(0:106)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000002(107:203)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000003(204:367)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000004(368:464)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000005(465:561)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000006(562:658)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000007(659:755)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000008(756:1251)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000009(1252:1348)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000010(1349:1511)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000011(1512:1609)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000012(1610:1706)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000013(1707:1803)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000014(1804:1900)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000015(1901:1997)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000016(1998:2493)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000017(2494:2590)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000018(2591:2754)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000019(2755:2851)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000020(2852:2948)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000021(2949:3045)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000022(3046:3142)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000023(3143:3239)
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000024(3240:3672)The THL files are retained for seven days by default, although this parameter is configurable. Due to the nature and potential size required to store the information for the THL, you should monitor the disk space and usage.
The purge is continuous and is based on the date the log file was written. Each time the replicator finishes the current THL log file, it checks for files that have exceeded the defined retention configuration and spawns a job within the replicator to delete files older than the retention policy. Old files are only removed when the current THL log file rotates.
Purging the THL on a Replica node can potentially remove information that has not yet been applied to the database. Please check and ensure that the THL data that you are purging has been applied to the database before continuing.
The THL files can be explicitly purged to recover disk space, but you should ensure that the currently applied sequence no to the database is not purged, and that additional hosts are not reading the THL information.
To purge the logs on a Replica node:
Determine the highest sequence number from the THL that you want to delete. To purge the logs up until the latest sequence number, you can use trepctl to determine the highest applied sequence number:
shell> trepctl services
Processing services command...
NAME VALUE
---- -----
appliedLastSeqno: 3672
appliedLatency : 331.0
role : slave
serviceName : alpha
serviceType : local
started : true
state : ONLINE
Finished services command...Put the replication service offline using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha offlineUse the thl command to purge the logs up to the specified transaction sequence number. You will be prompted to confirm the operation:
shell> thl purge -high 3670
WARNING: The purge command will break replication if you delete all events or »
delete events that have not reached all slaves.
Are you sure you wish to delete these events [y/N]?
y
Deleting events where SEQ# <=3670
2013-04-16 14:09:42,384 [ - main] INFO thl.THLManagerCtrl Transactions deletedPut the replication service online using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha onlineYou can now check the current THL file information:
shell> thl index
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000024(3240:3672)For more information on purging events using thl, see Section 8.18.4, “thl purge Command”.
Purging the THL on a Primary node can potentially remove information that has not yet been applied to the Replica databases. Please check and ensure that the THL data that you are purging has been applied to the database on all Replicas before continuing.
If the situation allows, it may be better to switch the Primary role to a current, up-to-date Replica, then perform the steps to purge THL from a Replica on the old Primary host using Section D.1.5.1, “Purging THL Log Information on a Replica”.
Follow the below steps with great caution! Failure to follow best practices will result in Replicas unable to apply transactions, forcing a full re-provisioning. For those steps, please see Section 7.6, “Provision or Reprovision a Replica”.
The THL files can be explicitly purged to recover disk space, but you should ensure that the currently applied sequence no to the database is not purged, and that additional hosts are not reading the THL information.
To purge the logs on a Primary node:
Determine the highest sequence number from the THL that you want to delete. To purge the logs up until the latest sequence number, you can use trepctl to determine the highest applied sequence number:
shell> trepctl services
Processing services command...
NAME VALUE
---- -----
appliedLastSeqno: 3675
appliedLatency : 0.835
role : master
serviceName : alpha
serviceType : local
started : true
state : ONLINE
Finished services command...Put the replication service offline using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha offlineUse the thl command to purge the logs up to the specified transaction sequence number. You will be prompted to confirm the operation:
shell> thl purge -high 3670
WARNING: The purge command will break replication if you delete all events or »
delete events that have not reached all slaves.
Are you sure you wish to delete these events [y/N]?
y
Deleting events where SEQ# <=3670
2013-04-16 14:09:42,384 [ - main] INFO thl.THLManagerCtrl Transactions deletedPut the replication service online using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha onlineYou can now check the current THL file information:
shell> thl index
LogIndexEntry thl.data.0000000024(3240:3672)For more information on purging events using thl, see Section 8.18.4, “thl purge Command”.
The location of the THL directory where THL files are stored can be changed, either by using a symbolic link or by changing the configuration to point to the new directory:
Changing the directory location using symbolic links can be used in an emergency if the space on a filesystem has been exhausted. See Section D.1.5.3.1, “Relocating THL Storage using Symbolic Links”
Changing the directory location through reconfiguration can be used when a permanent change to the THL location is required. See Section D.1.5.3.2, “Relocating THL Storage using Configuration Changes”.t
In an emergency, the directory currently holding the THL information, can be moved using symbolic links to relocate the files to a location with more space.
Moving the THL location requires updating the location for a Replica by temporarily setting the Replica offline, updating the THL location, and re-enabling back into the cluster:
Put the replication service offline using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha offlineCreate a new directory, or attach a new filesystem and location on which the THL content will be located. You can use a directory on another filesystem or connect to a SAN, NFS or other filesystem where the new directory will be located. For example:
shell> mkdir /mnt/data/thlCopy the existing THL directory to the new directory location. For example:
shell> rsync -r /opt/continuent/thl/* /mnt/data/thl/Move the existing directory to a temporary location:
shell> mv /opt/continuent/thl /opt/continuent/old-thlCreate a symbolic link from the new directory to the original directory location:
shell> ln -s /mnt/data/thl /opt/continuent/thlPut the replication service online using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha onlineTo permanently change the directory currently holding the THL information can by reconfigured to a new directory location.
To update the location for a Replica by temporarily setting the Replica offline, updating the THL location, and re-enabling back into the cluster:
Put the replication service offline using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha offlineCreate a new directory, or attach a new filesystem and location on which the THL content will be located. You can use a directory on another filesystem or connect to a SAN, NFS or other filesystem where the new directory will be located. For example:
shell> mkdir /mnt/data/thlCopy the existing THL directory to the new directory location. For example:
shell> rsync -r /opt/continuent/thl/* /mnt/data/thl/Change the directory location using tpm to update the configuration for a specific host:
shell> tpm update --thl-directory=/mnt/data/thl --host=host1Put the replication service online using trepctl:
shell> trepctl -service alpha onlineTHL files are by default retained for seven days, but the retention period can be adjusted according the to requirements of the service. Longer times retain the logs for longer, increasing disk space usage while allowing access to the THL information for longer. Shorter logs reduce disk space usage while reducing the amount of log data available.
The files are automatically managed by Tungsten Cluster. Old THL files are deleted only when new data is written to the current files. If there has been no THL activity, the log files remain until new THL information is written.
Use the tpm update command to apply the
--repl-thl-log-retention setting. The
replication service will be restarted on each host with updated
retention configuration.