Question:
What are *.e3i and *.e3o files, and how are they generated?
Solution:
These files (.e3i and .e3o) are basically intermediate files, working as buffers between E3 and the Database, where all the information to be recorded in the Database is stored. All data to be recorded by E3 tools are placed initially in .e3i files. If no e3o files are found by E3, the .e3i file will be renamed .e3o, which means it will become an output file. As soon as an .e3o file is thoroughly consumed (all its files have been recorded in the Database), it will be deleted, and the .e3i file is then renamed again as e3o.
Usually, when the connection to the Database is ok, these files are practically invisible for the user, since these operations happen very quickly. When the data to be recorded by E3 are generated at a higher rate than the Database’s recording speed, or when there are connection issues between E3 and the Database, these files (.e3i and .e3o) increase their size, and thus become visible.
NOTES:
- Up until version 3.2 build 263, *.e3i and *.e3o file size limit was 4Gb. Since version 3.2 build 264, there has been no size limit for these files.
- If *.e3o file is corrupted, a new file with sequential name (*.e3o1, *.e3o2, etc) will be created.
- If *.e3i file is corrupted, E3 will attempt to reset it. If the operation fails, this error will be recorded at E3 logs, and data will no longer be recorded in *.e3i.
