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Update garbage-collection.md (distribution#3443)
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scjane authored and dylanrhysscott committed Jan 5, 2023
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32 changes: 16 additions & 16 deletions docs/garbage-collection.md
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Expand Up @@ -17,41 +17,41 @@ objects that are no longer in use by the program."

In the context of the Docker registry, garbage collection is the process of
removing blobs from the filesystem which are no longer referenced by a
manifest. Blobs can include both layers and manifests.
manifest. Blobs can include both layers and manifests.


## Why Garbage Collection?

Registry data can occupy considerable amounts of disk space and freeing up
this disk space is an oft-requested feature. Additionally for reasons of security it
this disk space is an oft-requested feature. Additionally for reasons of security it
can be desirable to ensure that certain layers no longer exist on the filesystem.


## Garbage Collection in the Registry

Filesystem layers are stored by their content address in the Registry. This
Filesystem layers are stored by their content address in the Registry. This
has many advantages, one of which is that data is stored once and referred to by manifests.
See [here](compatibility.md#content-addressable-storage-cas) for more details.

Layers are therefore shared amongst manifests; each manifest maintains a reference
to the layer. As long as a layer is referenced by one manifest, it cannot be garbage
to the layer. As long as a layer is referenced by one manifest, it cannot be garbage
collected.

Manifests and layers can be 'deleted` with the registry API (refer to the API
Manifests and layers can be `deleted` with the registry API (refer to the API
documentation [here](spec/api.md#deleting-a-layer) and
[here](spec/api.md#deleting-an-image) for details). This API removes references
to the target and makes them eligible for garbage collection. It also makes them
[here](spec/api.md#deleting-an-image) for details). This API removes references
to the target and makes them eligible for garbage collection. It also makes them
unable to be read via the API.

If a layer is deleted it will be removed from the filesystem when garbage collection
is run. If a manifest is deleted the layers to which it refers will be removed from
is run. If a manifest is deleted the layers to which it refers will be removed from
the filesystem if no other manifests refers to them.


### Example

In this example manifest A references two layers: `a` and `b`. Manifest `B` references
layers `a` and `c`. In this state, nothing is eligible for garbage collection:
In this example manifest A references two layers: `a` and `b`. Manifest `B` references
layers `a` and `c`. In this state, nothing is eligible for garbage collection:

```
A -----> a <----- B
Expand All @@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ A -----> a B
```

In this state layer `c` no longer has a reference and is eligible for garbage
collection. Layer `a` had one reference removed but will not be garbage
collected as it is still referenced by manifest `A`. The blob representing
collection. Layer `a` had one reference removed but will not be garbage
collected as it is still referenced by manifest `A`. The blob representing
manifest `B` will also be eligible for garbage collection.

After garbage collection has been run manifest `A` and its blobs remain.
Expand All @@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ the blobs and if a blob's content address digest is not in the mark set, the
process will delete it.


> **NOTE** You should ensure that the registry is in read-only mode or not running at
> **NOTE**: You should ensure that the registry is in read-only mode or not running at
> all. If you were to upload an image while garbage collection is running, there is the
> risk that the image's layers will be mistakenly deleted, leading to a corrupted image.
This type of garbage collection is known as stop-the-world garbage collection. In future
This type of garbage collection is known as stop-the-world garbage collection. In future
registry versions the intention is that garbage collection will be an automated background
action and this manual process will no longer apply.

Expand All @@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ Garbage collection can be run as follows
`bin/registry garbage-collect [--dry-run] /path/to/config.yml`

The garbage-collect command accepts a `--dry-run` parameter, which will print the progress
of the mark and sweep phases without removing any data. Running with a log level of `info`
of the mark and sweep phases without removing any data. Running with a log level of `info`
will give a clear indication of what will and will not be deleted.

The config.yml file should be in the following format:
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -135,4 +135,4 @@ blob eligible for deletion: sha256:7e15ce58ccb2181a8fced7709e9893206f0937cc9543b
blob eligible for deletion: sha256:87192bdbe00f8f2a62527f36bb4c7c7f4eaf9307e4b87e8334fb6abec1765bcb
blob eligible for deletion: sha256:b549a9959a664038fc35c155a95742cf12297672ca0ae35735ec027d55bf4e97
blob eligible for deletion: sha256:f251d679a7c61455f06d793e43c06786d7766c88b8c24edf242b2c08e3c3f599
```
```

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