Automated Disk Health: Self-Healing Storage at Global Scale

In a global enterprise managing 500,000 endpoints, low disk space is a primary driver of OS update failures, application crashes, and agent instability. Bloated browser caches, temporary setup files, and stale logs can quickly exhaust storage on devices with limited SSD capacity.

This automation framework defines the Hexnode-native autonomous maintenance loop. By leveraging Compliance Rules, Dynamic Groups, and Automations, the organization ensures every device maintains a 10GB minimum operational ceiling, eliminating thousands of low-value support tickets and achieving 100% update readiness.

Logical Architecture: The Automated Remediation Loop

Hexnode manages disk health through a rule-driven lifecycle:

• Telemetry Layer: The Hexnode Agent monitors block-level storage metrics and reports data to the Device Inventory via periodic syncs or a Scan Device action.
• Compliance Layer: A Compliance Policy utilizes Compliance Rules to monitor “Free Disk Space” thresholds.
• Grouping Layer: Dynamic Groups automatically sort devices based on their compliance status:
  • Disk Healthy: Compliant with the 10GB threshold.
  • Disk Warning: Non-compliant with the 10GB threshold.
  • Disk Critical: Non-compliant with the 5GB threshold.
• Remediation Layer: Hexnode triggers the Execute Custom Script action automatically via Automations the moment a device joins a “Warning” or “Critical” Dynamic Group.
• Verification Layer: A Scan Device action is triggered post-execution to update inventory and re-evaluate compliance.

Tiered Threshold & Automation Logic

Hexnode implements a two-stage response to remediate storage issues without impacting user productivity.

Execution Logic: The “Purge” Workflow

Remediation is driven by the Execute Custom Script engine. Scripts are generated or refined using Hexnode Genie, validated for safety, and stored in the Hexnode Content Repository. Upon trigger, Automations deploy OS-specific scripts (PowerShell for Windows, Bash/Zsh for macOS/Linux) through four distinct phases.

Phase 1: Temporary Directory Sanitation

Scripts target volatile system paths that do not contain persistent user.

• Windows: C:\Windows\Temp, $env:TEMP.
• macOS: /private/var/folders, /Library/Caches.
• Linux: /tmp, /var/tmp.

Phase 2: Browser & App Cache Offloading

• Logic: The script identifies and closes inactive browser processes (Chrome, Edge, Safari).
• Action: Purges cache databases only; Cookies and Passwords are preserved to maintain user productivity.

Phase 3: Intelligent Log Management

• Action: Scripts compress (Zip) system and agent logs older than 7 days.
• Verification: Deletes local copies only after successful compression to reclaim immediate storage.

Phase 4: User Notification (Last Resort)

If space remains below the 10GB threshold after all 3 phases:

• Action: Script triggers user notification: “Your device is critically low on space. IT has cleaned system files, but additional space is required. Please review your Downloads and Desktop folders.”

Scale Impact & ROI (500k Fleet)

Governance & Safety Rails

• Anti-Flapping: Scripts include logic to prevent an “Aggressive Purge” from running more than once every 24 hours.
• Exclusion Lists: Admins define protected directories (e.g., /Development/Project_Alpha) within the script to prevent data loss.
• Audit Trail: Every byte reclaimed and script executed is logged in Action History, Device Activity, and Compliance Reports.

Implementation Checklist

1. Configure Compliance Rules for “Minimum Free Space” at 10GB and 5GB.
2. Create Dynamic Groups for Warning and Critical compliance violations.
3. Use Hexnode Genie to generate or refine OS-specific cleanup scripts.
4. Upload validated scripts to the Script Repository.
5. Configure Automations to trigger Execute Custom Script upon Dynamic Group entry.
6. Setup Alert Profiles to notify regional admins for “Disk Critical” events.
7. Test the workflow on a pilot Device Group before fleet-wide rollout.