I run the DX cluster at dxcluster.pa0esh.nl and lately my server has become somewhat sluggish. After some investigation I found that the user database users.v3j (located in /spider/data/) is being loaded entirely into memory. The file is currently 100MB in size and contains 266,323 records — all of which appear to be older than two years or have never logged in. My question: is it safe to clean up this database, and if so, is there a recommended procedure or built-in tool to remove stale or inactive users? I noticed there are conversion scripts in /spider/perl/ but nothing that looks like a purge or expiry tool. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards, Erik, PA0ESH
That's a small users.v3j file. Mine is 1.6 GB. How much RAM do you have on the machine? Ron VE3CGR On 2026-03-03 3:25 p.m., Erik Schott via Dxspider-support wrote:
I run the DX cluster at dxcluster.pa0esh.nl and lately my server has become somewhat sluggish. After some investigation I found that the user database users.v3j (located in /spider/data/) is being loaded entirely into memory. The file is currently 100MB in size and contains 266,323 records — all of which appear to be older than two years or have never logged in.
My question: is it safe to clean up this database, and if so, is there a recommended procedure or built-in tool to remove stale or inactive users? I noticed there are conversion scripts in /spider/perl/ but nothing that looks like a purge or expiry tool.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards, Erik, PA0ESH _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list --dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email todxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
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Hi Erik, It's not excessively large, at least for me; it all depends on your resources. No, there's no built-in automatic deletion, but you can carefully edit the user_json file manually and then reload it using this procedure: [ https://wiki.dxcluster.org/wiki/Restoring_the_user_DB_(Mojo_branch) | https://wiki.dxcluster.org/wiki/Restoring_the_user_DB_(Mojo_branch) ] Kin EA3CV De: "DXSpider support mailing list" <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> Para: "DXSpider support mailing list" <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> CC: "Ron Gibson" <ve3cgr@gmail.com> Enviados: Martes, 3 de Marzo 2026 22:43:38 Asunto: [Dxspider-support] Re: Database users.v3j That's a small users.v3j file. Mine is 1.6 GB. How much RAM do you have on the machine? Ron VE3CGR On 2026-03-03 3:25 p.m., Erik Schott via Dxspider-support wrote: I run the DX cluster at dxcluster.pa0esh.nl and lately my server has become somewhat sluggish. After some investigation I found that the user database users.v3j (located in /spider/data/) is being loaded entirely into memory. The file is currently 100MB in size and contains 266,323 records — all of which appear to be older than two years or have never logged in. My question: is it safe to clean up this database, and if so, is there a recommended procedure or built-in tool to remove stale or inactive users? I noticed there are conversion scripts in /spider/perl/ but nothing that looks like a purge or expiry tool. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards, Erik, PA0ESH _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- [ mailto:dxspider-support@dxcluster.org | dxspider-support@dxcluster.org ] To unsubscribe send an email to [ mailto:dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org | dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org ] [ http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_camp... ] Virus-free. [ http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_camp... | www.avg.com ] [ https://zimbra1.mail.ovh.net/?client=advanced#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1... | ] _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Run "export_user" in the console, the stop the node, run "cd /spider/local_data; perl user_json" and then restart your node. It's probably a good idea to do this once a year or so anyway. This will clear out a some cruft, but the users file contains a record for *every* user seen on the system - including on other nodes. This means that the users.v3j file will likely always grow bigger. On GB7TLH-2 (that is a nodes only node) There are just over 295000 users recorded. None of which are / have been locally connected. 73 Dirk G1TLH On 03/03/2026 20:25, Erik Schott via Dxspider-support wrote:
I run the DX cluster at dxcluster.pa0esh.nl and lately my server has become somewhat sluggish. After some investigation I found that the user database users.v3j (located in /spider/data/) is being loaded entirely into memory. The file is currently 100MB in size and contains 266,323 records — all of which appear to be older than two years or have never logged in.
My question: is it safe to clean up this database, and if so, is there a recommended procedure or built-in tool to remove stale or inactive users? I noticed there are conversion scripts in /spider/perl/ but nothing that looks like a purge or expiry tool.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards, Erik, PA0ESH _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Hello all I need help for unsuscribe. I have 3 mail boxes suscribed to the list, receiving 3 copies of every mail. No way to leave the list using address dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org Any admin can see if exists solution or the only one is apply a filter in my email client for dump the mails? As I can see, I arn't the only one having this kind of problem, any solution can help many of us. Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless. Regards Rick LU9DA
There are multiple ways to unsubscribe: Send an email to: dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org but this only works if you can email from the address you want to unsubscribe from. Log in at: https://mailman.hamserve.uk/accounts/login (creating an account first if necessary). Or you can email: dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org <mailto:dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org> to ask an admin for help.
On 4 Mar 2026, at 13:18, Ricardo Suarez via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> wrote:
Hello all
I need help for unsuscribe.
I have 3 mail boxes suscribed to the list, receiving 3 copies of every mail.
No way to leave the list using address dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Any admin can see if exists solution or the only one is apply a filter in my email client for dump the mails?
As I can see, I arn't the only one having this kind of problem, any solution can help many of us.
Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless.
Regards
Rick LU9DA _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Hello again. The first solution you write, isn't working, I write in my precedent email -Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless- because I try it before asking for help. The second solution was for I have now 3 accounts, isn't working. Every time you create an account the Borg alien ask for a new email address, assimilates you, put you on the list and any attempt to unsuscribe are futile... I try to ask owner, are the last effort, after that, I think the filter in the mailer tagging the list as spam are the best and only option Rick LU9DA El 4/3/2026 a las 13:44, Chris via Dxspider-support escribió:
There are multiple ways to unsubscribe:
Send an email to: dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org but this only works if you can email from the address you want to unsubscribe from.
Log in at: https://mailman.hamserve.uk/accounts/login (creating an account first if necessary).
Or you can email: dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org <mailto:dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org> to ask an admin for help.
On 4 Mar 2026, at 13:18, Ricardo Suarez via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> wrote:
Hello all
I need help for unsuscribe.
I have 3 mail boxes suscribed to the list, receiving 3 copies of every mail.
No way to leave the list using address dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Any admin can see if exists solution or the only one is apply a filter in my email client for dump the mails?
As I can see, I arn't the only one having this kind of problem, any solution can help many of us.
Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless.
Regards
Rick LU9DA _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Hi Rick, The first option DOES work, you just need to make sure you send the email FROM the email address you want to unsubscribe from. We've had a few people say this doesn't work, but in every case (so far) it was due to sending the unsubscribe request from the wrong email address, or the person had more than one address subscribed and only unsubscribed from one of them, then wondered why they were still getting emails :-) If you send a list of all the emails you want removing to: dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org they will be removed for you.
On 4 Mar 2026, at 14:06, Ricardo Suarez via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> wrote:
Hello again.
The first solution you write, isn't working, I write in my precedent email -Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless- because I try it before asking for help.
The second solution was for I have now 3 accounts, isn't working. Every time you create an account the Borg alien ask for a new email address, assimilates you, put you on the list and any attempt to unsuscribe are futile...
I try to ask owner, are the last effort, after that, I think the filter in the mailer tagging the list as spam are the best and only option
Rick LU9DA
El 4/3/2026 a las 13:44, Chris via Dxspider-support escribió:
There are multiple ways to unsubscribe:
Send an email to: dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org but this only works if you can email from the address you want to unsubscribe from.
Log in at: https://mailman.hamserve.uk/accounts/login (creating an account first if necessary).
Or you can email: dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org <mailto:dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org> to ask an admin for help.
On 4 Mar 2026, at 13:18, Ricardo Suarez via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> wrote:
Hello all
I need help for unsuscribe.
I have 3 mail boxes suscribed to the list, receiving 3 copies of every mail.
No way to leave the list using address dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Any admin can see if exists solution or the only one is apply a filter in my email client for dump the mails?
As I can see, I arn't the only one having this kind of problem, any solution can help many of us.
Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless.
Regards
Rick LU9DA _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
The first option DOESN'T work. I have controlled accuratelly the account from/to unsuscribe message are sended and the Borg ignores me with any kind of care LU9DA El 4/3/2026 a las 14:19, Chris escribió:
Hi Rick,
The first option DOES work, you just need to make sure you send the email FROM the email address you want to unsubscribe from.
We've had a few people say this doesn't work, but in every case (so far) it was due to sending the unsubscribe request from the wrong email address, or the person had more than one address subscribed and only unsubscribed from one of them, then wondered why they were still getting emails :-)
If you send a list of all the emails you want removing to: dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org they will be removed for you.
On 4 Mar 2026, at 14:06, Ricardo Suarez via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> wrote:
Hello again.
The first solution you write, isn't working, I write in my precedent email -Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless- because I try it before asking for help.
The second solution was for I have now 3 accounts, isn't working. Every time you create an account the Borg alien ask for a new email address, assimilates you, put you on the list and any attempt to unsuscribe are futile...
I try to ask owner, are the last effort, after that, I think the filter in the mailer tagging the list as spam are the best and only option
Rick LU9DA
El 4/3/2026 a las 13:44, Chris via Dxspider-support escribió:
There are multiple ways to unsubscribe:
Send an email to: dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org but this only works if you can email from the address you want to unsubscribe from.
Log in at: https://mailman.hamserve.uk/accounts/login (creating an account first if necessary).
Or you can email: dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org <mailto:dxspider-support-owner@dxcluster.org> to ask an admin for help.
On 4 Mar 2026, at 13:18, Ricardo Suarez via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org> wrote:
Hello all
I need help for unsuscribe.
I have 3 mail boxes suscribed to the list, receiving 3 copies of every mail.
No way to leave the list using address dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Any admin can see if exists solution or the only one is apply a filter in my email client for dump the mails?
As I can see, I arn't the only one having this kind of problem, any solution can help many of us.
Responses type "you can send a mail to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org for exit from the list" are useless.
Regards
Rick LU9DA _______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
DearAll, Thank you all for your pointers and instructions! I only have 2GB of memory available, and after adding another service things seemed a bit sluggish. That prompted me to look into maintenance and better understand why the users.v3j file grows the way it does. Following Dirk's advice, here are the results: [code] exported users to /spider/local_data/user_json - 266977 Users, 0 Deleted (0 empty & too old, 0 ancient, 0 nodes, 0 spurious), 0 renamed, 0 Unlocked, 0 Errors in 9373 mS perl user_json CREATING /spider/local_data/users.v3j (*) DXUser finished There are 266977 user records and 0 errors in 9644 mS [/code] The file has shrunk from 100MB+ down to just 68MB. Node is back up and running fine. Thanks again — 73 de PA0ESH
Hi Erik, 2GB is plenty of memory, my node with nearly 1000 connected users is only using 600MB of RAM. 73 Keith. On 4 Mar 2026 at 17:36 +0000, Erik Schott via Dxspider-support <dxspider-support@dxcluster.org>, wrote:
DearAll,
Thank you all for your pointers and instructions!
I only have 2GB of memory available, and after adding another service things seemed a bit sluggish. That prompted me to look into maintenance and better understand why the users.v3j file grows the way it does.
Following Dirk's advice, here are the results:
[code] exported users to /spider/local_data/user_json - 266977 Users, 0 Deleted (0 empty & too old, 0 ancient, 0 nodes, 0 spurious), 0 renamed, 0 Unlocked, 0 Errors in 9373 mS
perl user_json CREATING /spider/local_data/users.v3j (*) DXUser finished There are 266977 user records and 0 errors in 9644 mS [/code]
The file has shrunk from 100MB+ down to just 68MB. Node is back up and running fine.
Thanks again — 73 de PA0ESH
_______________________________________________ Dxspider-support mailing list -- dxspider-support@dxcluster.org To unsubscribe send an email to dxspider-support-leave@dxcluster.org
participants (7)
-
Chris -
Dirk Koopman -
Erik Schott -
Keith, G6NHU -
Kin -
Ricardo Suarez -
Ron Gibson