Excessive files creation issue

  • ResolvedPlugin Contributor Marko Vasiljevic

    (@vmarko)


    3 months ago

    Thank you for using W3 Total Cache!

    Recently we have received reports of excessive file creation on the server. The problem is related to Object Caching (if enabled) and using the Disk-based caching method for Object Caching. We are aware of the issue and we are working on the fix ASAP.

    We have identified the root of the issue comes from the setup guide. If Object Caching is enabled during the setup guide using the Disk Caching method, the Garbage collection interval (wp-cron event schedule w3_objectcache_cleanup which is used to delete the expired files) is not scheduled. Therefore, once the cache is cleared, the old files are not removed and the new cached files are created.

    The quick fix for this is to go to any W3 Total Cache Admin page, preferably the General settings one, and save all settings there. This will ensure that the OC Garbage collection cron is scheduled.
    Please note that Disk based caching is not recommended for Object Caching and memory-based caching is recommended for this type of caching.

    The patch release is on the way and we are sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

    Please open a support topic if you are expericing the issue or reply to this one for more assitance.

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

  • Does this situation create all the folders starting with “wc_cache_”?

    I’m new to managing my own website and I’m assuming I can just delete all of these folders thru File Manager – please confirm. Or, once I update the plugin will it automatically clear the old cache files?

    Also, does version 2.8.1 fix this issue?

    Plugin Contributor Marko Vasiljevic

    (@vmarko)

    Update!

    We’ve released the 2.8.1 version which fixes the issue with the Garbage collection interval (wp-cron event schedule?w3_objectcache_cleanup?which is used to delete the expired files) is not scheduled.

    This update fixes the cron and allows the inalidated files to be deleted.
    Please note that the Object Caching feature is recommended to be used with Redis or Memcached, meaning a memory-based caching solution and not Disk based caching.

    Thanks!

    Plugin Contributor Marko Vasiljevic

    (@vmarko)

    Hello @displayarama

    The wc_cache_ is folder is not created by the W3 Total cache. This is realated to the Woocommerce and those files are not created by the W3TC
    And yes the issue in the sticky post is resolved with the latest release

    Thanks!

    We discovered this in the past week when our host reported our file usage was maxed out. MAXED. OUT.
    We have a moderately sized site and a LOT of space but maxed out was a SHOCK and a lot of research before we learned it was this plugin.

    I have been deleting the object folder in cache thru FTP – it’s still running 24 hours later.

    WHAT. A. MESS. Inconvenience is an understatement. omg

    @vmarko We’ve been running FTP to remove the cache as per instructions and it has been running since LAST WEEK! Is that normal that it would take this long?? (was over 7 Million files) …. It’s unfathomable to me that it is taking this long. I don’t know what to do but wait?

    (I also removed the plugin as opposed to thinking you were going to come out with an update, so could that update be affecting this?)

    • This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by tabledesigns.

    Same here… deleting files for 3 days now. ??

    @edithmayerhofer We finally contacted our host who was able to delete the rest of the object.cache much faster. It was literally MILLIONS of files… smh … also … there was an additional file in the root, a part of that cache that ALSO has to be removed. Sharing the info with you since it was something I didn’t know was still wrong until I wrangled with this horror story.

    PPNSteve

    (@ppnsteve)

    pretty much killed our file system on the site that used this plugin.. we have tried to de-activate and delete it however its timing out during the deactivation sequence.

    It continues to show a timeout when loading the wp-admin, the site itself. How do we get the site back online?

    edithmayerhofer

    (@edithmayerhofer)

    @tabledesigns thank you so much. I am still in the deleting process. But I will give it a try and ask the hoster.

    tabledesigns

    (@tabledesigns)

    @edithmayerhofer I understand … I had been running the deletion for well over a week and it still had only deleted about 10%, which is when I called on the host. (thankfully they were able to remove it nearly immediately, and then I had to find out about that extra file in the root directory and delete THAT too)

    For those of us with LIVE sites that people use for day-to-day operations of an entire company … this literally was a website horror story, no joke. :-/

    miniworldua

    (@miniworldua)

    Can you please tell me what files you deleted and where they are?

    edithmayerhofer

    (@edithmayerhofer)

    Hello, I have updated the plugin and find myself AGAIN with millions of files to delete. What to do now?

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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