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Ludus Packer Cache Cleanup Guide

Aanrequested to merge
aancw/ludus:packer-cache-cleanup into main

Description

This PR provides a guide for implementing time-based file rotation for Packer cache ISO files. The proposal addresses the issue of ISO files and lock files accumulating in /opt/ludus/users/USERNAME/packer/packer_cache over time, consuming significant disk space.

Solution Overview

The guide outlines multiple approaches to implement automatic cleanup:

  • Using a dedicated time-based file rotation tool (Rotafile with example provided)
  • Using standard Linux tools (find with cron)
  • Suggestions for various retention policies (30-day, 60-day, etc.)

Benefits

  • Reduces disk usage by automatically removing old ISO files
  • Prevents Packer cache from growing indefinitely
  • Provides options for both manual and automated cleanup
  • Includes logging capabilities for audit purposes

Implementation Details

  • No code changes required to Ludus core
  • Can be implemented as a standalone maintenance solution
  • Fully configurable retention periods
  • Could be integrated with Ludus CLI in the future if desired

Testing

I've tested both approaches (Rotafile and standard find commands) on a system with similar directory structure, and both successfully identified and removed files based on age criteria.

The solution is designed to be non-invasive and can be adjusted to meet specific needs of Ludus installations with different usage patterns.

Issue ref: #97 (closed)

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