Understand the alert
This alert indicates that the Pi-hole blocklist (Gravity) file hasn't been updated for an extended period of time. The blocklist file contains domains that have been processed by Pi-hole to filter ads and malicious content. An outdated blocklist may leave your system more vulnerable to unwanted content and threats.
Troubleshoot the alert
- Check the current blocklist update status
To see how long it has been since the last update, you can use the following command:
root@netdata~ # pihole -q -adlist
This will display the timestamp of the last update.
- Rebuild the blocklist
If the alert indicates that your blocklist file is outdated, it's essential to update it by running:
root@netdata~ # pihole -g
This command will download the necessary files and rebuild the blocklist.
- Check for errors during the update
If you encounter any issues during the update, check the /var/log/pihole.log file for errors. You can also check the /var/log/pihole-FTL.log file for more detailed information on the update process.
- Verify the blocklist update interval
To ensure that your blocklist file is updated regularly, make sure you configure a regular update interval. You can do this by editing the cron job for Pi-hole:
root@netdata~ # crontab -e
This will open an editor. Look for the line containing the pihole -g command and adjust the schedule accordingly. For example, to update the blocklist daily, add the following line:
0 0 * * * /usr/local/bin/pihole -g
Save the file and exit the editor to apply the changes.
- Monitor the blocklist update status
After performing the necessary troubleshooting steps, keep an eye on the pihole_blocklist_last_update alert to ensure that your blocklist file is updated as expected.