How to free up space on Ubuntu Server
Introduction
So you have been running your Ubuntu Server for a while and recently found out that the disk usage is already at 70%!? Then lets free some space up.
This tutorial will help you liberate space on your system without breaking anything in the process.
Before we start
Preface
While this tutorial is focused on Ubuntu Server, it can be used for many other distributions that use the same packages, like Ubuntu Desktop, Debian, Linux Mint, etc.
Requisites
- An Ubuntu server
- Access to your server
Clean packages
Packages are archived and stored, if these versions can't be downloaded anymore --because there is a newer version or any other reason--, they end up being unnecessary. So let's clean lingering packages.
# Find no longer available packages and remove them
sudo apt autoclean -y
Remove packages
Chances are that when you update and upgrade your system, some packages end up being unnecessary. But your system won't remove them, so lets tell it to do that.
# Find unnecessary or redundant packages and remove them
sudo apt autoremove -y
Logs
Application logs keep increasing the disk usage of your server, specially if it is a busy one. But if we don't care much about keeping records, we can just delete them.
# Check current logs disk usage
sudo journalctl --disk-usage
# Rotate logs so they are saved to disk
sudo journalctl --rotate
# Clean any log that is older than one second
sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=1s
# One liner
sudo journalctl --rotate && sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=1s
Biggest files
Now we are switching to a more manual approach.
We will be using ncdu, a very easy-to-use CLI tool that will show us the biggest files on our system.
sudo apt update -y
# Install ncdu
sudo apt-get install -y ncdu
# Show biggest files in the system
sudo ncdu /
Now that ncdu has scanned your system you can:
- Select with the arrow keys
- Enter directories with
Enter - Remove directories and files with
d
Thats how easy it is.
⚠ Be careful not to delete any important file. In case of doubt, don't do it. ⚠
End
What's next?
You can now search for more specific guides.
For example, if you are using Docker, you might want to learn how to remove unnecessary resources.
Self-promotion
If you have found this useful, then you should follow me, I will be posting more interesting content! 🥰
Or support me financially. 💸
Conclusion
Today you have learned how to free up space on your system by removing packages, logs and files.
Let me know how much space you have recovered in the comments!
