Confluence storage space and method

[Elias Nassiopoulos]

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are setting up a confluence server in our server, and we have a question about file storage: the question is:

- We attach a photo (that is saved on our machine on c:\Photos) to a Confluence page. Say TestPhoto.jpg

- We then delete the photo from the drive c:\Photos

- We can still see the attachment though in confluence. So we assume (as we thought) that all files attached are copied by confluence. We found that they get stored in ..\Atlassian\ApplicationData\Confluence\Attachments, and we managed to find the copied image in on of the folders.

- However even if we delete that, we still can see the attachment in the confluence page. So we assume it is again stored somewhere else. 

- Can you help us understand a bit this whole thing? Where are the attachments stored? And how? Can someone delete an attachment and have it deleted (break the link) with confluence? 

we would really appreciate an explanation, as we want to keep a track of what is happening in the background and make the best out of the tools, and find the best processes for backups etc..

Many thanks.

[Moses Thomas · Accepted solution]

@Elias NassiopoulosAttachments  are stored in the files system  as you  have mentioned  the folder,  if you  want to delete from  this folder then  you need to  understand  the logic behind  it   see here   Hierarchical File System Attachment Storage on  how  the  structure  works!  and how to  search for attachments. When  you  understand it then   delete  exact folder which  the attachment are stored in the server( they are stored in some form of encoded  characters for images, and  for text files they should be stored as they are)  after deleting  there you  should restart confluence server for changes to  take place.  You may want to back up this folder before doing this  in case  something  goes wrong.

I suggest  you  delete attachment directly  from  space/page  and it will  disappear to  the trash  where you  can  permanently delete it. See how to delete attachment from space Manage Files

Best!

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Confluence stores attachments in its "home" directory, which is a place for all its working data (and attachments).

That storage is what you have found at ..\Atlassian\ApplicationData\Confluence\Attachments

> However even if we delete that,

DO NOT DO THAT.    Attachment data is managed in the application, and it's not just the files, there's metadata and caching around them.  You removing stuff it expects  to find there is going to break it.  Or even changing it.  Stop messing with data Confluence has put in a place for itself.  Ideally, make the directories accessible only to the confluence user, so your humans can't do stupid things with it at all.

For backups, see https://confluence.atlassian.com/doc/production-backup-strategy-38797389.html