Add a random, small time delay between update_tables.py cron jobs

[Marin BERNARD]

Hi,

So far, OPNsense regularly updates pf tables by running a Python script (/usr/local/opnsense/scripts/filter/update_tables.py) as a cron job on every minute. The invocation of the Python interpreter results in a substantial increase of CPU load for a few seconds.

When several OPNsense VMs are hosted on the same hypervisor, with properly configured time synchronization, the current schedule triggers the cron job at the very same time on every VM. This leads to CPU spikes every minute on the host system, as all VM compete for CPU time.

Would it be possible to add a small random delay at each cron job invocation to stagger table updates ? Something like:

Code Select Expand


/bin/sleep $(jot -r 1 1 45) && (/usr/local/bin/flock -n -E 0 -o /tmp/filter_update_tables.lock /usr/local/opnsense/scripts/filter/update_tables.py) > /dev/null


Many thanks,