To know why a particular file is created in temp directory

vishwanath · Post by **vishwanath** » Tue May 31, 2016 8:25 am

Hi Folks,

Greetings!

I can see the 0 byte binary files created in TEMP_DIR with no extension

The file looks like this
<server name>_<random number>_nzw_0_0

My target DB is Netezza, Please let me know whether Datastage job creates this file or netezza creates this as part of stats collection

I need to know this info since we are purging old files in TEMP_DIR,i want to know whether this files have any significance

Thanks:) in advance!

PaulVL · Post by **PaulVL** » Tue May 31, 2016 2:42 pm

You failed to mention if the file was being created on your ETL host or on the Netezza appliance.

vishwanath · Post by **vishwanath** » Tue May 31, 2016 7:22 pm

It is created in AIX host where datastage is installed

ArndW · Post by **ArndW** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 4:39 am

I've seen those files before with Netezza and the answer to your question is that no, they have no significance after the instance which uses them has finished; so you can delete those files (to be safe and not delete active ones, delete only older files, i.e. older than 1 day).

Teej · Post by **Teej** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 1:10 pm

They are probably named pipes.

-T.J.

Teej · Post by **Teej** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 1:14 pm

Forgot to include reference link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Named_pipe

Basically this is something we use quite extensively within DataStage. If you do not want them in the /tmp directory, set your $TMPDIR folder to a preferred folder. A lot of named pipes are created there.

If they are not being cleaned up properly, and there is no failure related to Netezza, you may want to open a ticket -- pretty low priority (P3 or P4) so we can track this and fix this either internally, or via the Netezza team down the road.

-T.J.

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 4:39 pm

Yes, my guess would be either named pipes or lock files.