---
name: "nfexpire"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "nfdump"
version: "1.7.5-2+deb13u1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nfexpire"
---

# nfexpire(1)

manage expiration of flow files based on time or volume.

## NAME

**nfexpire** – manage expiration of flow files based on time or volume.

## SYNOPSIS

**nfexpire** **-l** *directory*

**nfexpire** **-r** *directory*

**nfexpire** **-e** *directory* \[**-s** *maxsize*\] \[**-t** *maxlife*\] \[**-w** *watermark*\] \[**-T** *runtime*\]

**nfexpire** **-u** *path* \[**-s** *maxsize*\] \[**-t** *maxlife*\] \[**-w** *watermark*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**nfexpire** manages the expiration of netflow data files based on their lifetime and/or the total volume of all flow files. The flow files are usually created be any nfdump collector ( *nfcapd* *sfcapd* or *nfpcapd* )

**nfexpire** is used to setup the expire parameters (maintenance mode) or to actually run the expire process (expire mode) based on these parameters. The expire process can be triggered by either a cron job, by the collector process itself (nfcapd, sfcapd auto expire mode), or by running **nfexpire** manually.

**nfexpire** interacts with the collector, therefore it is safe to setup and expire files from a directory which is used by any collector to store flow files.

**nfexpire** stores a statistics file *.nfstat* in the given directory to maintain the status and parameters. You should not modify this file manually unless you know what you do. The *directory* argument for **nfexpire** corresponds to the *-l* argument on the collector command line.

The options are as follows:

- **-l** *directory*

  List the current expire statistics from directory datadir. If this is the first time **nfexpire** runs on this *directory* it automatically rescans the flow files first to update the statistics. If this an  active data directory used by any collector, the statistics are updated automatically.

- **-r** *directory*

  Rescans the data directory, even if a statistics file already exist. This command can be used to update the statistics after a disk full event, after manually changing the compression of the files, or if files have been deleted manually or manipulated otherwise.

- **-e** *directory*

  Expire data files according to the parameters *maxsize* and *maxlife*. The expire parameters are taken from the statfile, if they were previously set with **-u** or they can be overwritten with the additional options **-s** **-t** and **-w**. Files are deleted from the oldest towards the latest according both limits and stops at the *watermark* below the limit.

- **-u** *directory*

  Updates the expire parameters such as size and lifetime limits, specified by **-s** **-t** and **-w** and stores them in the statfile as default values. Any running collector process in auto  expire mode will take these new values starting with the next expire cycle.  Running nfexpire the next time in expire mode will take these new parameters unless they  will be overwritten by the arguments **-s** **-t** and **-w**.

- **-s** *maxsize*

  This option sets the max size limit for all data files. *maxsize* accepts values such as 100M, 100MB 1G 1.5G (number + quantity factor) etc. Accpeted size  factors are K, KB, M, MB, G, GB and T, TB. If no factor is given, bytes (B) is assumed. A value of 0 disables the max size limit.

- **-t** *maxlife*

  This option sets the max lifetime for the data files.  *maxlife* accepts values such as 31d, 240H 1.5d (number + quantity factor) etc. Accpeted time factors are w (weeks) d (days) H (hours). If no factor is given, hours (H) is assumed. A value of 0 disables the max lifetime limit.

- **-w** *watermark*

  This options sets the water mark in % of any limit. It applies to both limits *maxsize* and *maxlife*. The expire process is triggered if any of the limits are hit and stops, if the new value reaches the *watermark* level in % of the limit. This means files are allowed to grow between  *watermark* % lower level and 100% upper level. The default for  *watermark* is 95%.

- **-T** *runtime*

  This option forces **nfexpire** to end the expire task after *runtime* seconds, even if the task is not yet completed. **nfexpire** updates the statistics and exists cleanly, so it will pick up next time where it left. By default nfexpire runs until the task is done.

- **-p**

  This option puts **nfexpire** in profile mode. Only legacy NfSen will need this option.

- **-Y**

  This option prints a NfSen compatible statistic. Only legacy NfSen will need this option.

- **-h**

  Print help text on stdout with all options and exit.

## RETURN VALUES

**nfexpire** returns 0 on success and 255 otherwise.

## SEE ALSO

[nfdump(1)](/nfdump/1.md) [nfcapd(1)](/nfcapd/1.md) [sfcapd(1)](/sfcapd/1.md)