Blackfire Enabled By Default In Nextcloud? A Troubleshooting Guide

Hey guys, have you ever stumbled upon the php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo for blackfire failed: Name or service not known error in your Nextcloud logs? It's a bit of a headache, right? This error often pops up when Blackfire is enabled, and your Nextcloud instance is trying to connect to it, but something's not quite right. Let's dive into this, figure out what's going on, and how to fix it. This article is your go-to guide for understanding and managing Blackfire in your Nextcloud setup. We'll cover why this happens, whether Blackfire should be enabled by default, and how to permanently disable it if you don't need it.

Understanding the Blackfire Issue

So, what exactly is Blackfire, and why does it sometimes cause issues in Nextcloud? Blackfire is a powerful performance profiler, a tool designed to help developers identify and fix performance bottlenecks in their applications. It's super useful for optimizing code and making sure everything runs smoothly. However, it also requires a bit of setup. When Blackfire is enabled, your Nextcloud instance tries to connect to the Blackfire server to send performance data. If the connection fails, you get that annoying getaddrinfo error in your logs. This can happen for a few reasons: perhaps the Blackfire server isn't accessible, your network configuration is off, or the Blackfire agent isn't correctly configured within your container. The core of the problem lies in the default configuration, which often has Blackfire enabled even when it's not actively being used. This can lead to unnecessary errors and log clutter. It's important to note that, while Blackfire is a fantastic tool for performance optimization, it's not essential for the basic functioning of Nextcloud. If you're not actively using Blackfire to profile your Nextcloud instance, having it enabled by default can be more of a hindrance than a help. The goal here is to streamline your setup and reduce unnecessary errors. To further understand this, imagine Blackfire as a specialized diagnostic tool. While it's incredibly useful for identifying issues and optimizing performance, it isn't always needed. If you're not actively debugging or trying to improve the performance of your application, having Blackfire enabled is like leaving the diagnostic tool running in your car all the time, even when everything's running fine. It consumes resources and, in this case, generates errors. The key takeaway here is to configure Blackfire only when you need it and to ensure that the configuration is correct to avoid the getaddrinfo error. This will help maintain a clean and efficient Nextcloud environment.

The Problem: Default Blackfire Activation

The heart of the matter is that, in many Nextcloud setups, Blackfire seems to be enabled by default. This means that whenever you spin up your Nextcloud containers, Blackfire is automatically activated, even if you haven't configured or intended to use it. This default behavior can lead to those getaddrinfo errors. It's a common issue, and you're definitely not alone if you've experienced it. Ideally, Blackfire should be disabled by default, with an easy way to enable it when needed. This setup would prevent those errors from popping up and keep your logs clean. But, what do you do if Blackfire is enabled by default and you're seeing those errors? Well, there are a few solutions you can use to get rid of this problem, like disabling Blackfire through the command line. To sum it up, Blackfire's default activation is often unnecessary and can cause issues. The best solution would be to have it disabled by default. But what can you do in the meantime?

Disabling Blackfire: Temporary and Permanent Solutions

Alright, let's get to the meat of the issue: how do you disable Blackfire, both temporarily and permanently? You've already found that ./scripts/php-mod-config stable31 blackfire off works, but it doesn't stick around after a container recreation. So, what can we do to make it stick? Here's a breakdown of solutions and the pros and cons:

Temporary Disabling

As you know, the command ./scripts/php-mod-config stable31 blackfire off is a temporary fix. It disables Blackfire in the current container, but it will re-enable itself the next time the container is created or updated. This is great for quick fixes, but not a long-term solution. Let’s recap the basic command: ./scripts/php-mod-config [container name] blackfire off This method is the simplest. You execute the command to disable Blackfire. It’s a one-liner that gets the job done. However, the main drawback is that the settings don’t persist. Every container restart brings Blackfire back. So, it’s a good initial step, but not ideal for a persistent fix.

Permanent Disabling

For a permanent solution, you'll want to make changes that persist across container recreations. Here are a few approaches:

1. Using Docker Compose: The most reliable method involves modifying your docker-compose.yml file. You can add a command to disable Blackfire every time the container starts. Inside your docker-compose.yml, find the service definition for your Nextcloud container (e.g., stable31). Add the following line under the command: section:

   command: php -d extension=blackfire.so -r 'dl(