> Source: [sk180728](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk180728)

# sk180728 - $FWDIR/log/fwd.elg is corrupted during log rotation

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk180728 |
| Date Created | 2023-03-14 |
| Last Modified | 2025-03-06 |
| Technical Level | General |
| Products | Security Gateway, Security Management Server, Multi-Domain Security Management Server |
| Versions | R82.10, R81.20, R81.10 (EOS), R82.10, R81.20, R82.10, R81 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81.20 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Symptoms

- * When you open the `$FWDIR/log/fwd.elg` file in the Vi editor, the characters "`^@`" appear repeatedly.

  Example:

  ![](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/sc/SolutionsStatics/sk180728/fwd_log202303141402511.png)
* When you open the `$FWDIR/log/fwd.elg` file in an advanced text editor like Notepad++, the beginning of the file is filled with "NULL" characters.

* The FWD daemon is **not** running in the debug mode. ([How to debug FWD daemon](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk86321))


  For corruption in debug mode, please review [Log files can become corrupted when running debug of Check Point daemons on Gaia OS](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk52120).

## Cause

The internal log rotation mechanism rotates this log file when its size reaches a configured threshold.

In rare cases, the log rotation mechanism rotates the log file while the Gaia OS writes the data into it.

## Solution

This problem was fixed. The fix is included starting from:

* [Check Point R82](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk181127)
* [Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator for R81.20](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Jumbo_HFA/R81.20/Default.htm) starting from Take 26
* [Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator for R81.10](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Jumbo_HFA/R81.10/Default.htm) starting from Take 81
* [Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator for R81](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Jumbo_HFA/R81/Default.htm) starting from Take 87

Check Point recommends to always upgrade to the [Recommended version](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk95746) ([Security Gateway](https://support.checkpoint.com/product/73) / [VSX](https://support.checkpoint.com/product/359) / [Security Management Server](https://support.checkpoint.com/product/184) / [Multi-Domain Security Management Server](https://support.checkpoint.com/product/166) / [SmartConsole](https://support.checkpoint.com/product/191)).

If you choose not to upgrade, [contact Check Point Support](https://www.checkpoint.com/support-services/contact-support/) to get a Hotfix for your version.

A Support Engineer will make sure the Hotfix is compatible with your environment before providing it.  
For faster resolution and verification, collect these files:

1. [CPinfo](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk92739) file from the Management Server involved in the case.
2. [CPinfo](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk92739) file from the Security Gateway / each Cluster Member involved in the case.

**Hotfix installation instructions:**   
Refer to [sk168597 - How to install a Hotfix](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk168597).

---

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