Issue with OVH hosting and qemu agent

[360webfirm]

Hello,

CentOS 7 using C Panel and all updated version.

I run a few servers from OVH hosting and use C Panel on all of them. Lately when I install a new server and set up, I have issues with the auto backup solution I also buy with their services. It halts the server and I cannot do anything with it and need to contact them. THis does nto happen all the time, but with some new servers.

This is their response for this:

The automated backup qemu agent needs to be installed and updated as often as possible.
However, there are certain applications that are not fully compatible and that's when you may experience an issue similar to what you experienced.
So far cPanel and one of its older versions are not compatible.

What am I to do with this? They are saying its because of C Panel that this might not work.

I install the agent and soem times there is no issue, at times its really bad and their support time is NOT good whatsoever.

Can anyone make any suggestions please? I really appreciate all your help. This ONLY happens when I enable autobackups with their services.

 

[cPRex]

Hey there! With what you've described it sounds like the issue is definitely with their tools, as cPanel doesn't test their autobackup system on our end. The lat sentence they provided doesn't make sense to me:

"So far cPanel and one of its older versions are not compatible."

If they are saying that cPanel isn't compatible with their tool, that would be the final answer right there. If not, they would need to get you more details on how you can get that working as we don't have any knowledge of this tool on our end.

I'm sorry I can't provide any more details for you on my side but let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[360webfirm]

Thank you for your help, much appreciated.

 

[360webfirm]

Server unresposnive after starting auto backup

I created a new VPS server again and this time I had the same issue well I thought it was and the OVH support said the following:

Our specialists verified and found that the issue is being caused by VirtFS in cPanel. You will need to disable it in order to prevent the issue from repeating.


Can someone please elborate on this why all of a sudden this is happening when it never did before with several other servers I have?

 

[cPRex]

That doesn't sound right to me as VirtFS doesn't have anything to do with the backup system. All backup data is taken from the actual account data in /home/

Were they able to provide any other details on this? I don't have any similar reports on this on my end.

 

[360webfirm]

Just to make a note, I have set up several servers and never had any issues with VirtFS causing the server not to load. I ahve no clue why they would say that but if anyone has an opinion, would galdly like to hear it.

 

[360webfirm]

When I create and setup a new VPS server with OVH, before I would have no issues. They changed up their services and now when I create a new server, there was issues with the qemu agent that they said needed to be installed. I installed it according to their instructions and liek I have doen before and the server was unresponsive at about the exact same time as the autobackup would have been done. I contacted them and they said this which did nto make any sense.

" Hello,

Our specialists verified and found that the issue is being caused by VirtFS in cPanel. You will need to disable it in order to prevent the issue from repeating.

https://docs.cpanel.net/knowledge-b...isable the Use cPanel®,>> Manage Shell Access). "

I dont have a clue what is going on here.. Any idea why they would send me this link ?

 

[cPRex]

Turning off Shell Access is just one of the many steps necessary to disable VirtFS, but you can't completely keep VirtFS from being created. We even say that in one of our scary red/pink boxes here:

VirtFS Jailed Shell | cPanel & WHM Documentation

cPanel & WHM uses VirtFS to provide a jailed shell environment for users who connect to a server via SSH.

docs.cpanel.net

It doesn't make sense to me that they would say a core cPanel function has to be disabled on their system. If anything, it sounds like one of these Kernel issues is happening on the machine:

624721 – [qemu] [rhel6] bad error handling when qemu has no 'read' permissions over {kernel,initrd} files [pass boot options]

bugzilla.redhat.com

870311 – qemu-ga: guest-file-open after fsfreeze hangs qemu-ga

bugzilla.redhat.com

which is something they would need to update in their virtualization software most likely.

 

[360webfirm]

I can turn off shell as I dont allow anyone to have sheell access except me anyways. whats the best way to do this? I cannot find in tweak settings for some reason to turn off globally.

 

[cPRex]

Turning off shell access would be done through WHM >> Manage Shell Access. From that page it can be done globally. However, if they are saying VirtFS is the issue, this is not likely to solve the problem.

 

[360webfirm]

Yeah I agree with you 100%. This is related to the Qemu agent I am sure of. Any articles on how to amke sure this is enabled as I folloowed their article and its obvious that this does not work.

 

[cPRex]

That part I'm not sure about. Qemu is part of the virtualization software used by the host, and doesn't interact with cPanel (or at least shouldn't) so we don't have any experience with that on our end.

 

[360webfirm]

I am convinced it a conflict with the c panel software and their own server kernel/software which they even admitted.

The automated backup qemu agent needs to be installed and updated as often as possible.
However, there are certain applications that are not fully compatible and that's when you may experience an issue similar to what you experienced.
So far cPanel and one of its older versions are not compatible.

I dont know what to do..

 

[cPRex]

Honestly, it sounds like they aren't completely sure what to do either. If they are aware of software compatibilities with that system, they should move you to a system that works and doesn't have that requirement. However, there isn't anything you're going to be able to do on the cPanel side of things to fix that issue as the problem with the operating system and environment.

If the host isn't able to resolve the issue, you could always look into hosting with a different provider.

 

[360webfirm]

Can you take a look at this article as this is what they are ferring to I believe and let em know what you think on it?

Automated Backup - Kernel panic (cPanel)

Find out how to fix issues with cPanel servers getting stuck during OVHcloud automated backup

docs.ovh.com

 

[360webfirm]

Take a look at the options above, it saysd to Disable QEMU Guest Agent when using autobackup to avoid kernel hung up. Now, this other article below shows soemthing different in my opinon and maybe you can verify this so I know I am not loosing my marbles. It says to enable this feature right?

Using automatic backups on a VPS

Find out how to enable and use the Automated Backup option in the OVHcloud Control Panel

docs.ovh.com

 

[360webfirm]

This is what I just sent them.

I am very confused about the QEMU agent. I use autobackups not snapshots. I have been told to enable and make sure its active and was sent this article:

Best practice for using auto-backups - Using automatic backups on a VPS

However, I also came across this article from your guys about Autobackups.

it says to Disable QEMU Guest Agent - Automated Backup - Kernel panic (cPanel)

Which one is correct?

 

[cPRex]

The article linked in the last reply does indicate the qemu software is required, so those articles would seem to be in conflict with each other.

 

[cPRex]

I see we both replied at the same time! I hope they are able to help get the system working normally.

 

[360webfirm]

Yeah your right.

I looked at my others servers and non actually have this active as it says inactive (dead) when checking the status of the Qemu agent.

I wanted to say thanks for taking the time to answer these post and for all your help as it means a lot to me.

Take care and stay safe!