Garbage Collection and scheduled recordings

An evolving, supported alternative to Rovi
Forum rules
★ Download the latest EPG123 here: https://garyan2.github.io/ <> Setup guide here: https://garyan2.github.io/install.html
Post Reply
Sancho

Posts: 160
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:52 pm
Location:

HTPC Specs: Show details

Garbage Collection and scheduled recordings

#1

Post by Sancho » Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:32 pm

I'm curious about the timing between pausing an update that's scheduled to do GC and scheduled recordings. Here's my scenario and what I observe:
  • EPG123 scheduled task runs at 4:55 AM
  • Recording scheduled for 7 AM
  • EPG123 icon is blue with the message "Waiting for recordings to end..." when I turn the TV on at 10 AM
Is two hours really necessary? I've never seen GC take more than 40 min. on this PC. I've been trying to accommodate GC by recording from 5 AM to 7 AM on a different PC, then copying that recording over, but apparently there's no point in going through that exercise. Would three hours be sufficient?

Thanks.

User avatar
garyan2

Posts: 7438
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2015 7:23 pm
Location:

HTPC Specs: Show details

#2

Post by garyan2 » Fri Apr 23, 2021 5:34 pm

Take a look at your log to see when the GC started and when it ended. If it started late, then that could be the reason. EPG123 will not perform a GC immediately if there is a recording ongoing or a recording scheduled to start within an hour. The import will not happen if a recording is ongoing or a recording scheduled to start within 15 minutes.

I can't control how long a GC takes. Anecdotal evidence suggested 1 hour was typically enough... mine only takes 4 minutes. If there is something wrong with the database that would explain why it is taking longer. I'd take a look at the log file to see if the GC is taking longer and longer to complete.

Based on what you see, you could certainly give yourself more time for GC based on your specific situation. The 1 hour is not a hard fast rule and there will be variations between users and hardware/software.
- Gary
Keeping WMC alive beyond January 2020. https://garyan2.github.io

Sancho

Posts: 160
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:52 pm
Location:

HTPC Specs: Show details

#3

Post by Sancho » Mon Apr 26, 2021 3:27 pm

Thanks, Gary. I'll have to experiment a bit with the early morning recordings. In this last instance I noticed that GC did not run once I cancelled the recordings, so it was just the import that was delayed. The delay may have been caused by WMC automatically rescheduling recordings of previous recordings that were disrupted by the dreaded "Subscription Required" message that Comcast likes to push out. A couple sports recordings were definitely disrupted the previous day, and at least one of the rebroadcasts may have been in that hour window (5 AM - 6 AM) after the update should have completed. I only noticed them in WMC after I posted my above message.

This should be a good week to do some testing.

Post Reply