> Source: [sk184840](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk184840)

# sk184840 - High /var/log disk usage due to Threat Emulation updates

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk184840 |
| Date Created | 2026-03-25 |
| Last Modified | 2026-03-25 |
| Technical Level | Advanced |
| Products | Security Gateway |
| Versions | R82.10, R82, R81.20 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Symptoms

- /var/log disk utilization intermittently increases, sometimes exceeding 80%, often during scheduled updates. Disk usage may increase by several GBs within a short time and return to normal automatically within several hours to 24 hours. Large files/directories observed under:   

* /var/log/files_repository/
* /var/log/files_repository/CTX/

<br />

Multiple version-related directories may exist simultaneously.

<br />

## Cause

This behavior is expected by design. When Threat Emulation is enabled:

* Threat Emulation engine updates are downloaded and stored locally in */var/log/files_repository,* and for VSX Gateways in */var/log/files_repository/CTX/.*
* Multiple update versions may temporarily coexist to allow rollback if needed.
* Temporary files are not removed immediately and may remain until an automated cleanup process runs (typically within 24 hours).

In VSX environments, this behavior is amplified because:

* Each Virtual System (VS) operates independently.
* Each VS downloads and maintains its own Threat Emulation update files.
* Disk consumption is cumulative across all VS instances.

## Solution

This solution requires authentication. Please log in to view the full solution.

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