How does wstemp directory work in WebSphere Application Server with PQ78824?
 Technote (FAQ)
 
Problem
The <Install_ROOT>/wstemp directory is used as a temporary location for configuration files when a user logs into the WebSphere® Application Server administrative console or when using wsadmin command line utility.

Prior to the application of PQ78824, the <Install_ROOT>/wstemp directory continues to grow and takes up disk space.
 
Cause
The Install_ROOT/wstemp directory is not cleaned up, causing disk space to fill.
 
Solution
When you log into the console, a directory is created under the wstemp directory that represents the user ID used to log in. Within this directory a workspace folder is created to store temporary configuration data. PQ78824 cleans up this temporary workspace, but does not completely delete the folders within the Install_ROOT/wstemp directory.

Here are some scenarios and explanations of the expected behavior for 5.0.2.3+, 5.1.1+, and all versions of 6.0 which all include the PQ78824 fix:

  1. Log into the console and log out; the userid folder under Install_ROOT/wstemp remains, but the contents are removed.

    • This is expected. Only the workspace directory inside wstemp directory is cleaned up.

    • When a user logs in, a directory inside wstemp is also created wstemp/<string hashcode of userid>/workspace.

    • All configuration data is temporarily stored in this workspace directory. This is the only directory cleaned after installing PQ78824. The fix does NOT clean up the wstemp/<string hashcode of userid> directory.


  2. Log into the console, change something, log out; the folder under Install_ROOT/wstemp remains and all contents are removed except a preferences.xml file.

    • This is valid, because preferences.xml stores the user specific customizations made in the administrative console.

    • Each time the a user logs in, their preferences are retrieved from preferences.xml in the wstemp/<string hashcode of userid> directory. This is explained in the Information Center under "Specifying console preferences".


  3. Log into the administrative console, then log out to close the browser This cleans up the wstemp directory. PQ78824 avoids any accidental cleanup of configuration files.


  4. Start wsadmin, then exit.

    • The Install_ROOT/wstemp directory for wsadmin is removed.

    • The preferences.xml file is removed because it is not used by wsadmin.

Additional Notes
  • PQ78824 is included in cumulative fixes 5.0.2.3+ and 5.1.1+ For more details on downloads, see Recommended Fixes.
  • The Install_ROOT/wstemp/* directories can be safely deleted if all users are logged out of the console and no administration scripting is currently running (wstemp, ws_ANT, etc)
  • The workaround to remove folders under the wstemp directory if PQ78824 has not been applied is the following: To delete the files, a cron job can be run every night to delete files that are 2 days old. This is a limited workaround as some files that are a day or less old can be 33 MB per file. A cron job can also be used to clean up the empty directories even after PQ78824 has been applied.
 
 
Cross Reference information
Segment Product Component Platform Version Edition
Application Servers Runtimes for Java Technology Java SDK
 
 


Document Information


Product categories: Software > Application Servers > Distributed Application & Web Servers > WebSphere Application Server > System Management/Repository
Operating system(s): Windows
Software version: 6.1
Software edition:
Reference #: 1173367
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Jul 20, 2006