Troubleshooting "invalid checker timestamp" (1970) error
This article explains how to troubleshoot an error of "invalid timestamp" within Checkmk.
LAST TESTED ON CHECKMK 2.3.0P1
Problem
For some reason, it could be the case that you will see invalid checker timestamps in the cmc.log and the Checkmk GUI:
2022-04-28 11:45:33 [4] [core 25015] [smartping scheduler] refuse to schedule invalid jobhost "testhost-a" at 1970-01-01 01:00:00 with an invalid timestamp
2022-04-28 11:45:33 [4] [core 25015] [smartping scheduler] refuse to schedule invalid jobhost "testhost-b" at 1970-01-01 01:00:00 with an invalid timestamp
2022-04-28 11:45:33 [4] [core 25015] [smartping scheduler] refuse to schedule invalid jobhost "testhost-c" at 1970-01-01 01:00:00 with an invalid timestampIn <2.1 there is no way to debug that due to the format of the state file. With Checkmk 2.1, the state file will have a different format. Anyway: If you face that issue in <2.1, you can open a case for that.
If you face this issue <=2.1, you can follow our Workaround or open a support ticket and provide the following information by using our support diagnostic.
Workaround
Log on to the affected site.
root@mylinuxhost~$ su - mysite.
navigate to
~/var/check_mk/coreOMD[mysite]:~$ cd ~/var/check_mk/core/.
here you will find all the "
state" filesOMD[mysite]:~/var/check_mk/core$ ls archive/ helper_config/ state.1 state.5 state.9 autochecks/ history state.2 state.6 config state state.3 state.7 discovered_host_labels/ state-version-7 state.4 state.8The cmc is always using the file "
state"
.Now rename the "
state" file tostate.(number)OMD[mysite]~$ ~/var/check_mk/core$ mv state state.10The number depends on how many
state.(number)files you already have..
You can either restart the whole site with
OMD[mysite]~$ omd restartor do
OMD[mysite]~$ cmk -ONow a new "state" file is created!
Restore a state file
Go back to Step 4 of the Workaround and move the state.NN to state
mv state.NN stateDon't restart the core in that case!