Config.xml missing in Jenkins jobs directory

Community
,
1

Problem:
the config.xml files under $JENKINS_HOME/jobs are missing.
All jobs disappear in the Jenkins UI.

Expected Result:
Each job directory should contain a config.xml file and Jenkins should load job configurations correctly.

Actual Result:
config.xml files are missing from job directories.
Jenkins cannot properly load or restore job configurations.

Additional Information:

  • Jenkins: 2.4440.2

  • OS: Linux Redhat 9.2

Command output:
$ ls -ltr $JENKINS_HOME/jobs
(total output showing missing config.xml)

What I’ve checked:

  • No manual deletion of jobs
  • No errors in Jenkins UI related to job deletion

Questions:

  1. Is there any known issue in Jenkins 2.440.2 that could lead to config.xml being removed?
  2. Under what conditions would Jenkins delete or overwrite config.xml?
2

No, there is not a known issue that could lead to config.xml being removed.

None that I know, though if you allow jobs to run on the controller (because you have at least 1 executor enabled on the controller), it is feasible that a rogue job could delete files on the controller. If you have made that mistake, refer to the Jenkins documentation:

3

My jenkins have too much error on Manage plugin page:

:wrench: Indirectly Dependent Plugins

:small_blue_diamond: Pipeline

  • Pipeline (596.v8c21c963d92d)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy Libraries (pipeline-groovy-lib 704.vc58b_8890a_384)

  • Pipeline: Stage View Plugin (2.34)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: REST API Plugin (pipeline-rest-api 2.34)

  • Pipeline: Declarative (2.2184.v0b_358b_953e69)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Pipeline: GitHub Groovy Libraries (42.v0739460cda_c4)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy Libraries (pipeline-groovy-lib 704.vc58b_8890a_384)

  • Pipeline: Multibranch (773.vc4fe1378f1d5)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Pipeline: Declarative Extension Points API (2.2184.v0b_358b_953e69)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy (workflow-cps 3883.vb_3ff2a_e3eea_f)

  • Pipeline Graph Analysis Plugin (216.vfd8b_ece330ca_)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy (workflow-cps 3883.vb_3ff2a_e3eea_f)

  • Pipeline: Groovy Libraries (704.vc58b_8890a_384)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy (workflow-cps 3883.vb_3ff2a_e3eea_f)

  • Pipeline: Groovy (3883.vb_3ff2a_e3eea_f)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Pipeline: REST API Plugin (2.34)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Job (workflow-job 1400.v7fd111b_ec82f)

:small_blue_diamond: Core Dependency Chain

  • Pipeline: Job (1400.v7fd111b_ec82f)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Docker Pipeline (572.v950f58993843)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy (workflow-cps 3883.vb_3ff2a_e3eea_f)

  • Gradle Plugin (2.10)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Groovy (workflow-cps 3883.vb_3ff2a_e3eea_f)

:small_blue_diamond: Git / SCM

  • GitHub Branch Source Plugin (1781.va_153cda_09d1b_)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • GitLab Plugin (1.8.0)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Pipeline: Job (workflow-job 1400.v7fd111b_ec82f)

  • Branch API Plugin (2.1152.v6f101e97dd77)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

:small_blue_diamond: Folder / Job Structure

  • Folders Plugin (6.901.vb_4c7a_da_75da_3)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Job Import Plugin (3.6)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Folders Plugin (cloudbees-folder 6.901.vb_4c7a_da_75da_3)

  • Job DSL (1.87)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Branch API Plugin (branch-api 2.1152.v6f101e97dd77)

:small_blue_diamond: Testing / Report

  • JUnit Plugin (1259.v65ffcef24a_88)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Email Extension Plugin (2.105)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: JUnit Plugin (junit 1259.v65ffcef24a_88)

:small_blue_diamond: Matrix / Security

  • Matrix Project Plugin (822.824.v14451b_c0fd42)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: JUnit Plugin (junit 1259.v65ffcef24a_88)

  • Matrix Authorization Strategy Plugin (3.2.2)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

:small_blue_diamond: Utility Plugins

  • Workspace Cleanup Plugin (0.45)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Matrix Project Plugin (matrix-project 822.824.v14451b_c0fd42)

  • ThinBackup (2.1.3)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

  • Favorite (2.208.v91d65b_7792a_c)
    :cross_mark: Failed to load: Ionicons API (ionicons-api 88.va_4187cb_eddf1)

4

Your Jenkins controller file system may have been damaged or overwritten or reverted to an older copy. When Jenkins fails to load a plugin, it is usually because a dependent plugin is missing. Your best path is probably to restore from backup.

5

That is a very old Jenkins version, that is no longer supported by the Jenkins update site. So it might have happened that you have one plugin that is too new for you Jenkins that fails to load and that then takes down a whole bunch of other plugins.
I strongly recommend that you update to the latest Jenkins LTS version and update all plugins as there are several security issues reported.

I would suspect that the ionicons-api plugin is too new as the version 88.va_4187cb_eddf1 requires Jenkins 2.479
So check the Jenkins logs for the first occurence of a failed plugin
If the workflow-job plugin can’t be loaded all pipeline jobs will not be loaded and look as if they got deleted. The config.xml files are likely still there.

6

Also not that your command ls -ltr $JENKINS_HOME/jobs will not list config files but only the directories in the job folder. The config.xml files are one level below