Unable to generate disklayout_config.json

[Delta-Entropy]

Hello,

When running the script I get the following:

Multi-Report v3.28 dtd:2025-12-09 (TrueNAS SCALE - Electric Eel 24.10.2.4)

Checking for Updates
   Multi-Report - Installed:  3.28, GitHub:  3.28 - No Update Available
   Drive-Selftest - Installed: 1.07, GitHub: 1.07 - No Update Available
   Sendemail - Installed: 1.80, GitHub: 1.80 - No Update Available
   SMR-Check - Installed: 2.0, GitHub: 2.0 - No Update Available
   Disk Layout (render_case) - Installed: 0.17, GitHub: 0.17 - No Update Available


SMART Testing not enabled in 'multi_report_config.txt' file.
Drive-Selftest script will not be run.

Collecting Multi-Report Data...
Creating Initial Disk Layout /mnt/Apps/scripts/multireport/disklayout_config.json File
parse error: Invalid string: control characters from U+0000 through U+001F must be escaped at line 196, column 4
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
<>          Disk Layout - Error         <>
<>   render_case had an error code = 1  <>
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
cat: /mnt/Apps/scripts/multireport/case_email_snippet.html: No such file or directory
Using sendemail.py

Then, checking the directory shows it hasn't been able to generate the file:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   28635 Aug 29  2025 2025-08-29_Old_3.19_multi_report_config.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   28635 Mar  1 11:48 2026-03-01_Old_3.19_multi_report_config.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   33557 Mar  1 12:58 2026-03-01_Old_3.28_multi_report_config.txt
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root      25 Feb 28 00:00 DS_Logs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4192906 Aug 29  2025 Drive_Selftest_User_Guide.pdf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 3699820 Mar  1 11:49 Multi_Report_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8606192 Mar  1 11:49 Multi_Report_User_Guide.pdf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root     156 Mar  1 11:49 changelog.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    4062 Mar  1 13:04 disklayout_changes.log
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  125855 Mar  1 11:49 drive_selftest.sh
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  714889 Mar  1 11:49 multi_report.sh
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   33557 Mar  1 12:58 multi_report_config.txt
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  623543 Mar  1 11:48 multi_report_v3.19_2025_06_30.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   28635 Mar  1 11:48 multi_report_v3.19_2025_06_30_config.txt
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  714889 Mar  1 11:49 multi_report_v3.28_2025_12_09.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   33437 Mar  1 11:49 multi_report_v3.28_2025_12_09_config.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   40640 Mar  1 11:49 render_case.py
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   56397 Mar  1 11:49 sendemail.py
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root   12180 Mar  1 11:49 smr-check.sh
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   60564 Mar  1 13:05 statisticalsmartdata.csv

Everything else appears to be running fine. I've tried a couple of times and looked through the config. I just updated to the latest version of the script. Apologies if I missed something.

Thanks

[JoeSchmuck]

I see this error message: parse error: Invalid string: control characters from U+0000 through U+001F must be escaped at line 196, column 4

Did you by chance edit a file using a text editor? If yes, it must be saved using UNIX format.

[Delta-Entropy]

I don't believe I did. I updated, then went through the config using ./multi_report.sh -config

I'll try clearing the lot and starting again.

Edit:
Deleted the folder and tried with a fresh copy of multi_report, and I get the same error

[JoeSchmuck]

Are you running as root? Really root, not admin, su, sudo.... If you are, please run the script using the -dump email switch. This will send both you and I a report with data from the script. When it asks for a message, feel free to just answer GitHub problem #63. Wow, 63. That is a lot.

Oh yes, ACLs can give a script a hard time. If you are using root, then first check your ACLs and ensure the directory has full access/control. I hate ACLs, Unix was good enough for me.

We will get to the bottom of this.

[Delta-Entropy]

I believe I am running it as root, whoami and id give root.

I've run -dump email.

Chances are I've done something dumb.

Appreciate you looking into this.

[JoeSchmuck]

I just found your dump in my Junk folder, but what's new. I will send you something via email.

[HLMazurFFD]

What was the verdict here? I just installed a fresh copy of multi-report on a new server and I also did not generate a disk layout json. the rest of the script/cron runs fine with no issues.

[JoeSchmuck]

@HLMazurFFD I saw your message a few days ago but I'm on travel and was just able to log into GitHub. I'm still on the road so I will not be answering anything quickly.

The parse error indicates a write permissions issue.

The typical issue here is due to permissions, ACLs. I have not heard back from @Delta-Entropy in a while once we identified that as the issue.