Compare commits

...
6 Commits
Author SHA1 Message Date
Josh HawkinsandGitHub de1d9745cd Merge b5a360be39 into f065cc8642 2026-06-23 04:29:15 -05:00
f065cc8642 fix unbounded recordings_info growth for cameras with no cache segments (#23528)
CI / AMD64 Build (push) Waiting to run
CI / ARM Build (push) Waiting to run
CI / Jetson Jetpack 6 (push) Waiting to run
CI / AMD64 Extra Build (push) Blocked by required conditions
CI / ARM Extra Build (push) Blocked by required conditions
CI / Synaptics Build (push) Blocked by required conditions
CI / Assemble and push default build (push) Blocked by required conditions
A record-enabled camera whose record stream produces no cache segments
never appears in grouped_recordings, so the per-camera prune in
RecordingMaintainer.move_files() never runs for it. Its
object_recordings_info and audio_recordings_info buffers then grow
without bound until the recording process is OOM-killed (discussion
#23451).

Run a prune every move_files() cycle for cameras absent from
grouped_recordings, dropping entries older than the longest a segment
could still wait in cache before being matched
(MAX_SEGMENTS_IN_CACHE * MAX_SEGMENT_DURATION * 2). Cameras present in
grouped_recordings are left untouched and keep their existing prune.

Add a regression test asserting that an absent camera's stale entries
are dropped (recent ones kept) while a present camera's entries are
left intact.

Co-authored-by: John Pescatore <johnpescatore@claude.internal.johnpescatore.com>
2026-06-22 14:33:56 -06:00
Josh HawkinsandGitHub 9ce80e7266 Improve storage docs (#23542)
* improve storage docs

* clarify

* tweak language

* move section
2026-06-22 15:27:24 -05:00
mayerwinandGitHub bb5056a68a docs: correct face_recognition min_area default to 750 (#23535) 2026-06-22 06:38:52 -06:00
Josh Hawkins b5a360be39 add test 2026-04-17 17:18:11 -05:00
Josh Hawkins 54a7c5015e fix birdseye layout calculation
replace the two pass layout with a single pass pixel space algorithm
2026-04-17 17:18:04 -05:00
8 changed files with 364 additions and 111 deletions
+2 -2
View File
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ Navigate to <NavPath path="Settings > Enrichments > Face recognition" />.
- **Detection threshold**: Face detection confidence score required before recognition runs. This field only applies to the standalone face detection model; `min_score` should be used to filter for models that have face detection built in.
- Default: `0.7`
- **Minimum face area**: Minimum size (in pixels) a face must be before recognition runs. Depending on the resolution of your camera's `detect` stream, you can increase this value to ignore small or distant faces.
- Default: `500` pixels
- Default: `750` pixels
</TabItem>
<TabItem value="yaml">
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ Navigate to <NavPath path="Settings > Enrichments > Face recognition" />.
face_recognition:
enabled: true
detection_threshold: 0.7
min_area: 500
min_area: 750
```
</TabItem>
+2
View File
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ Metrics are available at `/api/metrics` by default. No additional Frigate config
- `frigate_storage_used_bytes{storage=""}` - Storage used bytes
- `frigate_storage_mount_type{mount_type="", storage=""}` - Storage mount type info
These gauges report the operating system's figures for the whole filesystem (the same numbers as `df`), not Frigate's own recording footprint. For how this differs from the recordings usage shown in the UI, see [Understanding storage usage](/configuration/record#understanding-storage-usage).
### Service Metrics
- `frigate_service_uptime_seconds` - Uptime in seconds
+60 -4
View File
@@ -199,10 +199,6 @@ Because recording segments are written in 10 second chunks, pre-capture timing d
Pre and post capture footage is included in the **recording timeline**, visible in the History view. Note that pre/post capture settings only affect which recording segments are **retained on disk** — they do not change the start and end points shown in the UI. The History view will still center on the review item's actual time range, but you can scrub backward and forward through the retained pre/post capture footage on the timeline. The Explore view shows object-specific clips that are trimmed to when the tracked object was actually visible, so pre/post capture time will not be reflected there.
## Will Frigate delete old recordings if my storage runs out?
If there is less than an hour left of storage, the oldest hour of recordings will be deleted and a message will be printed in the Frigate logs. This emergency cleanup deletes the oldest recordings first regardless of retention settings to reclaim space as quickly as possible.
## Configuring Recording Retention
Frigate supports both continuous and tracked object based recordings with separate retention modes and retention periods.
@@ -355,3 +351,63 @@ Setting `verbose: true` writes a detailed report of every orphaned file and data
This operation uses considerable CPU resources and includes a safety threshold that aborts if more than 50% of files would be deleted. Only run when necessary. If you set `force: true` the safety threshold will be bypassed; do not use `force` unless you are certain the deletions are intended.
:::
## Understanding storage usage
The storage usage Frigate reports will not exactly match what the operating system reports with `df` or `du`. This is expected, not a bug. The sections below explain how Frigate derives its storage figures and why they differ from the disk's own accounting.
### How Frigate measures recording usage
The **Recordings** value on the Storage Metrics page (<NavPath path="System > Storage" />) — and the per-camera **Camera Storage** breakdown — is the sum of the recording segment sizes Frigate has written, taken from Frigate's database. It is **not** computed by a scan of the disk. Frigate tracks usage this way by design: repeatedly walking the entire drive to total its size would keep hard drives spun up and add unnecessary I/O.
The disk **total** shown beside it, and the free-space figure Frigate uses to decide when to delete recordings, instead come from the operating system's report for the whole filesystem mounted at `/media/frigate`. As a result, the **Unused** value on the page is _total disk capacity minus Frigate's recordings_ — not the drive's real free space, which will be lower whenever anything else is stored on the disk.
### What counts toward usage — and why it won't match `df`
Only **recording segments** (`/media/frigate/recordings`) are included in the recordings storage total. Plenty of other things consume real disk space but are **not** part of that number:
- **Snapshots and thumbnails** (`/media/frigate/clips`) — see [Snapshots](/configuration/snapshots). These are retained independently of recordings.
- **Preview videos** and **review thumbnails** (also under `/media/frigate/clips`).
- **Exports** (`/media/frigate/exports`) — exports are never removed by retention.
- **The database, downloaded detection models, and face / license plate training images** (stored under `/config`).
- **Debug images from enrichments** (`/media/frigate/clips`) — when enabled, License Plate Recognition's `debug_save_plates` and GenAI's `debug_save_thumbnails` save plate crops and request images for troubleshooting.
These files are the usual explanation for an "other" or seemingly unaccounted bucket of space — it is real, it is Frigate's, and it simply isn't part of the _recordings_ total. They are also why comparing the **Recordings** figure to `df -h` always shows a gap: `df` additionally counts any non-Frigate data on the disk, filesystem overhead and reserved blocks (ext4 reserves ~5% for root by default, so a disk can read "full" before recordings approach the total), and recently deleted recordings whose space has not yet been reclaimed.
:::tip
The Storage page is not intended to be a system-wide disk monitor — it shows how much space _Frigate's recordings_ use. To see true disk usage, use `df -h` (free space) and `du -sh` (per-directory usage) on the host.
:::
### Free space and the `/media/frigate` mount
Frigate reports the capacity and free space of whatever filesystem is actually mounted at `/media/frigate` **inside the container**. If an external drive or network share isn't truly mounted there — a missing `/etc/fstab` entry, a share that was offline when the container started, or a host that doesn't pass the path through — the container falls back to the host's OS disk, and Frigate will correctly report that smaller disk instead of the drive you intended.
If the reported capacity doesn't match your drive, the mount is the place to look, not Frigate. Verify what is actually mounted from inside the container:
```bash
docker exec -it frigate df -h /media/frigate
docker exec -it frigate mount | grep media
```
See the [storage mount layout](/frigate/installation#storage) for how the volumes are expected to be configured.
### The `/tmp/cache` area is separate
Recording segments are first written to `/tmp/cache` — a small, in-memory (`tmpfs`) area — before being checked and moved to `/media/frigate/recordings`. Because it is separate and small, `/tmp/cache` can fill up and produce `No space left on device` errors even when the recordings disk has plenty of room — they are different storage areas. See [Recordings troubleshooting](/troubleshooting/recordings) for diagnosing cache and slow-storage issues.
### When the metrics don't match what's on disk
Because usage is tracked in the database, deleting recording files directly on disk — or files left behind after an upgrade — will not update the reported usage, and can even push it above 100%. Frigate is unaware of files it didn't record and won't count or remove them automatically. Use [Syncing Media Files With Disk](#syncing-media-files-with-disk) to reconcile the database with what is actually on disk.
## Will Frigate delete old recordings if my storage runs out?
Yes. Frigate continuously checks the **free space of the disk** holding `/media/frigate/recordings`. This is different from adding up the size of every recording: free space is a single number the operating system already tracks, so Frigate can ask for it instantly without reading through your files or spinning up the disk — which is exactly why it relies on this check rather than scanning the drive. When less than roughly one hour of recording space remains — estimated from the current recording bitrate, **not** a fixed percentage — Frigate deletes the oldest recordings to reclaim space and logs a message. This emergency cleanup removes the oldest recordings first **regardless of retention settings**.
Two consequences follow from this being based on whole-disk free space:
- Because the check uses the disk's real free space, **anything** filling the drive — including non-Frigate files — can trigger deletion of your oldest recordings.
- Cleanup can run while a meaningful percentage of the disk is still free (for example, with high bitrates or many cameras), because the threshold is "less than ~1 hour of recording headroom," not "X% full."
Frequent emergency cleanups usually mean your configured retention exceeds what the disk can hold. Reduce your retention days so the normal retention cleanup keeps up and the emergency path rarely triggers.
+2
View File
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ Frigate requires a CPU with AVX + AVX2 instructions. Most modern CPUs (post-2011
Storage is an important consideration when planning a new installation. To get a more precise estimate of your storage requirements, you can use an IP camera storage calculator. Websites like [IPConfigure Storage Calculator](https://calculator.ipconfigure.com/) can help you determine the necessary disk space based on your camera settings.
Once running, see [Understanding storage usage](/configuration/record#understanding-storage-usage) for how Frigate measures and reports disk usage — and why its numbers won't exactly match `df` or `du`.
#### SSDs (Solid State Drives)
SSDs are an excellent choice for Frigate, offering high speed and responsiveness. The older concern that SSDs would quickly "wear out" from constant video recording is largely no longer valid for modern consumer and enterprise-grade SSDs.
+83 -103
View File
@@ -595,112 +595,92 @@ class BirdsEyeFrameManager:
) -> Optional[list[list[Any]]]:
"""Calculate the optimal layout for 2+ cameras."""
def map_layout(
camera_layout: list[list[Any]], row_height: int
) -> tuple[int, int, Optional[list[list[Any]]]]:
"""Map the calculated layout."""
candidate_layout = []
starting_x = 0
x = 0
max_width = 0
y = 0
def find_available_x(
current_x: int,
width: int,
reserved_ranges: list[tuple[int, int]],
max_width: int,
) -> Optional[int]:
"""Find the first horizontal slot that does not collide with reservations."""
x = current_x
for row in camera_layout:
final_row = []
max_width = max(max_width, x)
x = starting_x
for cameras in row:
camera_dims = self.cameras[cameras[0]]["dimensions"].copy()
camera_aspect = cameras[1]
for reserved_start, reserved_end in sorted(reserved_ranges):
if x >= reserved_end:
continue
if camera_dims[1] > camera_dims[0]:
scaled_height = int(row_height * 2)
scaled_width = int(scaled_height * camera_aspect)
starting_x = scaled_width
else:
scaled_height = row_height
scaled_width = int(scaled_height * camera_aspect)
if x + width <= reserved_start:
return x
# layout is too large
if (
x + scaled_width > self.canvas.width
or y + scaled_height > self.canvas.height
):
return x + scaled_width, y + scaled_height, None
x = max(x, reserved_end)
final_row.append((cameras[0], (x, y, scaled_width, scaled_height)))
x += scaled_width
if x + width <= max_width:
return x
y += row_height
candidate_layout.append(final_row)
if max_width == 0:
max_width = x
return max_width, y, candidate_layout
canvas_aspect_x, canvas_aspect_y = self.canvas.get_aspect(coefficient)
camera_layout: list[list[Any]] = []
camera_layout.append([])
starting_x = 0
x = starting_x
y = 0
y_i = 0
max_y = 0
for camera in cameras_to_add:
camera_dims = self.cameras[camera]["dimensions"].copy()
camera_aspect_x, camera_aspect_y = self.canvas.get_camera_aspect(
camera, camera_dims[0], camera_dims[1]
)
if camera_dims[1] > camera_dims[0]:
portrait = True
else:
portrait = False
if (x + camera_aspect_x) <= canvas_aspect_x:
# insert if camera can fit on current row
camera_layout[y_i].append(
(
camera,
camera_aspect_x / camera_aspect_y,
)
)
if portrait:
starting_x = camera_aspect_x
else:
max_y = max(
max_y,
camera_aspect_y,
)
x += camera_aspect_x
else:
# move on to the next row and insert
y += max_y
y_i += 1
camera_layout.append([])
x = starting_x
if x + camera_aspect_x > canvas_aspect_x:
return None
camera_layout[y_i].append(
(
camera,
camera_aspect_x / camera_aspect_y,
)
)
x += camera_aspect_x
if y + max_y > canvas_aspect_y:
return None
row_height = int(self.canvas.height / coefficient)
total_width, total_height, standard_candidate_layout = map_layout(
camera_layout, row_height
)
def map_layout(row_height: int) -> tuple[int, int, Optional[list[list[Any]]]]:
"""Lay out cameras row by row while reserving portrait spans for the next row."""
candidate_layout: list[list[Any]] = []
reserved_ranges: dict[int, list[tuple[int, int]]] = {}
current_row: list[Any] = []
row_index = 0
row_y = 0
row_x = 0
max_width = 0
max_height = 0
for camera in cameras_to_add:
camera_dims = self.cameras[camera]["dimensions"].copy()
camera_aspect_x, camera_aspect_y = self.canvas.get_camera_aspect(
camera, camera_dims[0], camera_dims[1]
)
portrait = camera_dims[1] > camera_dims[0]
scaled_height = row_height * 2 if portrait else row_height
scaled_width = int(scaled_height * (camera_aspect_x / camera_aspect_y))
while True:
x = find_available_x(
row_x,
scaled_width,
reserved_ranges.get(row_index, []),
self.canvas.width,
)
if x is not None and row_y + scaled_height <= self.canvas.height:
current_row.append(
(camera, (x, row_y, scaled_width, scaled_height))
)
row_x = x + scaled_width
max_width = max(max_width, row_x)
max_height = max(max_height, row_y + scaled_height)
if portrait:
reserved_ranges.setdefault(row_index + 1, []).append(
(x, row_x)
)
break
if current_row:
candidate_layout.append(current_row)
current_row = []
row_index += 1
row_y = row_index * row_height
row_x = 0
if row_y + scaled_height > self.canvas.height:
overflow_width = max(max_width, scaled_width)
overflow_height = row_y + scaled_height
return overflow_width, overflow_height, None
if current_row:
candidate_layout.append(current_row)
return max_width, max_height, candidate_layout
row_height = max(1, int(self.canvas.height / coefficient))
total_width, total_height, standard_candidate_layout = map_layout(row_height)
if not standard_candidate_layout:
# if standard layout didn't work
@@ -709,9 +689,9 @@ class BirdsEyeFrameManager:
total_width / self.canvas.width,
total_height / self.canvas.height,
)
row_height = int(row_height / scale_down_percent)
row_height = max(1, int(row_height / scale_down_percent))
total_width, total_height, standard_candidate_layout = map_layout(
camera_layout, row_height
row_height
)
if not standard_candidate_layout:
@@ -725,8 +705,8 @@ class BirdsEyeFrameManager:
1 / (total_width / self.canvas.width),
1 / (total_height / self.canvas.height),
)
row_height = int(row_height * scale_up_percent)
_, _, scaled_layout = map_layout(camera_layout, row_height)
row_height = max(1, int(row_height * scale_up_percent))
_, _, scaled_layout = map_layout(row_height)
if scaled_layout:
return scaled_layout
+19
View File
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ from frigate.util.services import get_video_properties
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
STALE_RECORDINGS_INFO_TTL = MAX_SEGMENTS_IN_CACHE * MAX_SEGMENT_DURATION * 2
class SegmentInfo:
def __init__(
@@ -301,6 +303,8 @@ class RecordingMaintainer(threading.Thread):
RecordingsDataTypeEnum.saved.value,
)
self._expire_stale_recordings_info(grouped_recordings)
recordings_to_insert: list[Optional[dict[str, Any]]] = await asyncio.gather(
*tasks
)
@@ -311,6 +315,21 @@ class RecordingMaintainer(threading.Thread):
[r for r in recordings_to_insert if r is not None],
)
def _expire_stale_recordings_info(
self, grouped_recordings: defaultdict[str, list[dict[str, Any]]]
) -> None:
expire_before = datetime.datetime.now().timestamp() - STALE_RECORDINGS_INFO_TTL
for recordings_info in (
self.object_recordings_info,
self.audio_recordings_info,
):
for camera in list(recordings_info.keys()):
if camera in grouped_recordings:
continue
info = recordings_info[camera]
while info and info[0][0] < expire_before:
info.pop(0)
def drop_segment(self, cache_path: str) -> None:
Path(cache_path).unlink(missing_ok=True)
self.end_time_cache.pop(cache_path, None)
+156 -2
View File
@@ -1,11 +1,64 @@
"""Test camera user and password cleanup."""
"""Tests for Birdseye canvas sizing and layout behavior."""
import unittest
from multiprocessing import Event
from frigate.output.birdseye import get_canvas_shape
from frigate.config import FrigateConfig
from frigate.output.birdseye import BirdsEyeFrameManager, get_canvas_shape
class TestBirdseye(unittest.TestCase):
def _build_manager(
self, camera_dimensions: dict[str, tuple[int, int]]
) -> BirdsEyeFrameManager:
config = {
"mqtt": {"host": "mqtt"},
"birdseye": {"width": 1280, "height": 720},
"cameras": {},
}
for order, (camera, dimensions) in enumerate(
camera_dimensions.items(), start=1
):
config["cameras"][camera] = {
"ffmpeg": {
"inputs": [
{
"path": f"rtsp://10.0.0.1:554/{camera}",
"roles": ["detect"],
}
]
},
"detect": {
"width": dimensions[0],
"height": dimensions[1],
"fps": 5,
},
"birdseye": {"order": order},
}
return BirdsEyeFrameManager(FrigateConfig(**config), Event())
def _assert_no_overlaps(
self, layout: list[list[tuple[str, tuple[int, int, int, int]]]]
):
rectangles = [position for row in layout for _, position in row]
for index, rect in enumerate(rectangles):
x1, y1, width1, height1 = rect
for other in rectangles[index + 1 :]:
x2, y2, width2, height2 = other
overlap = (
x1 < x2 + width2
and x2 < x1 + width1
and y1 < y2 + height2
and y2 < y1 + height1
)
self.assertFalse(
overlap,
msg=f"Overlapping rectangles found: {rect} and {other}",
)
def test_16x9(self):
"""Test 16x9 aspect ratio works as expected for birdseye."""
width = 1280
@@ -45,3 +98,104 @@ class TestBirdseye(unittest.TestCase):
canvas_width, canvas_height = get_canvas_shape(width, height)
assert canvas_width == width # width will be the same
assert canvas_height != height
def test_portrait_camera_does_not_overlap_next_row(self):
"""Portrait cameras should reserve their real horizontal position on the next row."""
manager = self._build_manager(
{
"cam_a": (1280, 720),
"cam_p": (360, 640),
"cam_b": (1280, 720),
"cam_c": (640, 480),
}
)
layout = manager.calculate_layout(["cam_a", "cam_p", "cam_b", "cam_c"], 3)
self.assertIsNotNone(layout)
assert layout is not None
self._assert_no_overlaps(layout)
cam_c = [
position for row in layout for camera, position in row if camera == "cam_c"
][0]
self.assertEqual(cam_c[0], 0)
def test_portrait_reservation_only_applies_to_next_row(self):
"""Portrait reservations should not push later rows after the span ends."""
manager = self._build_manager(
{
"cam_a": (1280, 720),
"cam_p": (360, 640),
"cam_b": (1280, 720),
"cam_c": (1280, 720),
"cam_d": (1280, 720),
"cam_e": (1280, 720),
}
)
layout = manager.calculate_layout(
["cam_a", "cam_p", "cam_b", "cam_c", "cam_d", "cam_e"],
3,
)
self.assertIsNotNone(layout)
assert layout is not None
self._assert_no_overlaps(layout)
cam_e = [
position for row in layout for camera, position in row if camera == "cam_e"
][0]
self.assertEqual(cam_e[0], 0)
def test_multiple_portraits_reserve_distinct_ranges(self):
"""Multiple portrait cameras in one row should reserve separate spans below them."""
manager = self._build_manager(
{
"cam_a": (640, 480),
"cam_p1": (360, 640),
"cam_p2": (360, 640),
"cam_b": (640, 480),
"cam_c": (1280, 720),
"cam_d": (640, 480),
}
)
layout = manager.calculate_layout(
["cam_a", "cam_p1", "cam_p2", "cam_b", "cam_c", "cam_d"],
4,
)
self.assertIsNotNone(layout)
assert layout is not None
self._assert_no_overlaps(layout)
def test_two_landscapes_then_portrait_then_two_landscapes(self):
"""A portrait after two landscapes should reserve only its own tail span."""
manager = self._build_manager(
{
"cam_a": (1280, 720),
"cam_b": (1280, 720),
"cam_p": (360, 640),
"cam_c": (1280, 720),
"cam_d": (1280, 720),
}
)
layout = manager.calculate_layout(
["cam_a", "cam_b", "cam_p", "cam_c", "cam_d"],
3,
)
self.assertIsNotNone(layout)
assert layout is not None
self._assert_no_overlaps(layout)
cam_c = [
position for row in layout for camera, position in row if camera == "cam_c"
][0]
cam_d = [
position for row in layout for camera, position in row if camera == "cam_d"
][0]
self.assertEqual(cam_c[0], 0)
self.assertEqual(cam_d[0], cam_c[0] + cam_c[2])
+40
View File
@@ -115,6 +115,46 @@ class TestMaintainer(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
self.assertIsNone(result)
maintainer.drop_segment.assert_called_once_with(cache_path)
async def test_expire_stale_recordings_info_drops_only_absent_cameras(self):
config = MagicMock(spec=FrigateConfig)
config.cameras = {}
stop_event = MagicMock()
maintainer = RecordingMaintainer(config, stop_event)
now = datetime.datetime.now().timestamp()
ancient = now - 86400
recent = now - 1
maintainer.object_recordings_info["present_cam"] = [(ancient, [], [], [])]
maintainer.audio_recordings_info["present_cam"] = [(ancient, 0, [])]
maintainer.object_recordings_info["absent_cam"] = [
(ancient, [], [], []),
(recent, [], [], []),
]
maintainer.audio_recordings_info["absent_cam"] = [
(ancient, 0, []),
(recent, 0, []),
]
grouped_recordings = {"present_cam": [{"start_time": ancient}]}
maintainer._expire_stale_recordings_info(grouped_recordings)
self.assertEqual(
maintainer.object_recordings_info["present_cam"], [(ancient, [], [], [])]
)
self.assertEqual(
maintainer.audio_recordings_info["present_cam"], [(ancient, 0, [])]
)
self.assertEqual(
maintainer.object_recordings_info["absent_cam"], [(recent, [], [], [])]
)
self.assertEqual(
maintainer.audio_recordings_info["absent_cam"], [(recent, 0, [])]
)
if __name__ == "__main__":
unittest.main()