Resolving Disk Quota Discrepancies in cPanel and Server

Occasionally, you might encounter discrepancies between the disk usage reported by cPanel and the actual usage on the server. This situation can be puzzling and frustrating. This guide provides a step-by-step solution to resolve these differences and ensure that cPanel reflects the correct disk usage.

Step 1: Log in to the Server

Access your server as the root user via SSH:

ssh root@server

Once logged in, you'll have the necessary permissions to perform system-wide operations.

Step 2: Run Reset and Fix Quota Scripts

cPanel provides scripts to reset and fix quotas. Running these might resolve the issue immediately.

Reset Quotas: This script resets user quotas to ensure they're in sync:

/scripts/resetquotas

Fix Quotas: This script attempts to correct any quota problems:

/scripts/fixquotas

Step 3: Verify the Quota Adjustment

After running the scripts, check if the disk quota issue is resolved. If the discrepancy persists, proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Use Screen for a Detailed Quota Check

If the issue is still unresolved, it's time to perform a more thorough quota check. Using screen allows this process to continue running even if your SSH session is disconnected.

Start a Screen Session:

screen -S ea

Run Quotacheck: In the screen session, force a check and update of disk quotas for all filesystems:

quotacheck -avfumg

• -a: Check all filesystems.
• -v: Verbose mode.
• -f: Force checking even if the system believes quotas are correct.
• -u: Check user quotas.
• -m: Do not try to remount the file system read-only.
• -g: Check group quotas.

Exiting Screen: To detach from the screen session without stopping the running process:

Ctrl + A + D

Re-enter Screen: If you need to go back to your screen session:

screen -x

Step 5: Completion and Verification

Once the quotacheck process completes, you should see a summary of the directories and files checked:

quotacheck: Scanning /dev/simfs [/] done
quotacheck: Checked 90761 directories and 772655 files.

Check in WHM: Now, verify whether the disk usage in cPanel reflects the actual usage on the server:

1. Log in to WHM.
2. Navigate to the account in question and review the disk space usage.

Conclusion

Resolving discrepancies between cPanel and server-reported disk usage can usually be handled through the provided scripts and a thorough quota check. Remember, keeping your cPanel and server environment updated and regularly monitored is crucial for maintaining accuracy and performance. If the issue persists after these steps, consider contacting cPanel support or a server administrator for further assistance.