Reduce the default consistency check frequency and support configuring the frequency independently for each check (#523).

NEWS

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 1.6.2.dev0
- * #536: Fix generate-borgmatic-config with "--source" flag to support more complex schema changes
+ * #523: Reduce the default consistency check frequency and support configuring the frequency
-   like the new Healthchecks configuration options.
+   independently for each check. See the documentation for more information:
+   https://torsion.org/borgmatic/docs/how-to/deal-with-very-large-backups/#check-frequency
+ * #536: Fix generate-borgmatic-config to support more complex schema changes like the new
+   Healthchecks configuration options when the "--source" flag is used.
  * Add Bash completion script so you can tab-complete the borgmatic command-line. See the
    documentation for more information:
    https://torsion.org/borgmatic/docs/how-to/set-up-backups/#shell-completion

README.md

@@ -37,8 +37,9 @@ retention:
 consistency:
     # List of checks to run to validate your backups.
     checks:
-        - repository
+        - name: repository
-        - archives
+        - name: archives
+          frequency: 2 weeks
 
 hooks:
     # Custom preparation scripts to run.

borgmatic/borg/check.py

@@ -1,46 +1,152 @@
+import argparse
+import datetime
+import json
 import logging
+import os
+import pathlib
 
-from borgmatic.borg import extract
+from borgmatic.borg import extract, info, state
 from borgmatic.execute import DO_NOT_CAPTURE, execute_command
 
-DEFAULT_CHECKS = ('repository', 'archives')
+DEFAULT_CHECKS = (
+    {'name': 'repository', 'frequency': '2 weeks'},
+    {'name': 'archives', 'frequency': '2 weeks'},
+)
 DEFAULT_PREFIX = '{hostname}-'
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def _parse_checks(consistency_config, only_checks=None):
+def parse_checks(consistency_config, only_checks=None):
     '''
-    Given a consistency config with a "checks" list, and an optional list of override checks,
+    Given a consistency config with a "checks" sequence of dicts and an optional list of override
-    transform them a tuple of named checks to run.
+    checks, return a tuple of named checks to run.
 
     For example, given a retention config of:
 
-        {'checks': ['repository', 'archives']}
+        {'checks': ({'name': 'repository'}, {'name': 'archives'})}
 
     This will be returned as:
 
         ('repository', 'archives')
 
-    If no "checks" option is present in the config, return the DEFAULT_CHECKS. If the checks value
+    If no "checks" option is present in the config, return the DEFAULT_CHECKS. If a checks value
-    is the string "disabled", return an empty tuple, meaning that no checks should be run.
+    has a name of "disabled", return an empty tuple, meaning that no checks should be run.
 
-    If the "data" option is present, then make sure the "archives" option is included as well.
+    If the "data" check is present, then make sure the "archives" check is included as well.
     '''
-    checks = [
+    checks = only_checks or tuple(
-        check.lower() for check in (only_checks or consistency_config.get('checks', []) or [])
+        check_config['name']
-    ]
+        for check_config in (consistency_config.get('checks', None) or DEFAULT_CHECKS)
-    if checks == ['disabled']:
+    )
+    checks = tuple(check.lower() for check in checks)
+    if 'disabled' in checks:
+        if len(checks) > 1:
+            logger.warning(
+                'Multiple checks are configured, but one of them is "disabled"; not running any checks'
+            )
         return ()
 
     if 'data' in checks and 'archives' not in checks:
-        checks.append('archives')
+        return checks + ('archives',)
 
-    return tuple(check for check in checks if check not in ('disabled', '')) or DEFAULT_CHECKS
+    return checks
 
 
-def _make_check_flags(checks, check_last=None, prefix=None):
+def parse_frequency(frequency):
+    '''
+    Given a frequency string with a number and a unit of time, return a corresponding
+    datetime.timedelta instance or None if the frequency is None or "always".
+
+    For instance, given "3 weeks", return datetime.timedelta(weeks=3)
+
+    Raise ValueError if the given frequency cannot be parsed.
+    '''
+    if not frequency:
+        return None
+
+    frequency = frequency.strip().lower()
+
+    if frequency == 'always':
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        number, time_unit = frequency.split(' ')
+        number = int(number)
+    except ValueError:
+        raise ValueError(f"Could not parse consistency check frequency '{frequency}'")
+
+    if not time_unit.endswith('s'):
+        time_unit += 's'
+
+    if time_unit == 'months':
+        number *= 4
+        time_unit = 'weeks'
+    elif time_unit == 'years':
+        number *= 365
+        time_unit = 'days'
+
+    try:
+        return datetime.timedelta(**{time_unit: number})
+    except TypeError:
+        raise ValueError(f"Could not parse consistency check frequency '{frequency}'")
+
+
+def filter_checks_on_frequency(location_config, consistency_config, borg_repository_id, checks):
+    '''
+    Given a location config, a consistency config with a "checks" sequence of dicts, a Borg
+    repository ID, and sequence of checks, filter down those checks based on the configured
+    "frequency" for each check as compared to its check time file.
+
+    In other words, a check whose check time file's timestamp is too new (based on the configured
+    frequency) will get cut from the returned sequence of checks. Example:
+
+    consistency_config = {
+        'checks': [
+            {
+                'name': 'archives',
+                'frequency': '2 weeks',
+            },
+        ]
+    }
+
+    When this function is called with that consistency_config and "archives" in checks, "archives"
+    will get filtered out of the returned result if its check time file is newer than 2 weeks old,
+    indicating that it's not yet time to run that check again.
+
+    Raise ValueError if a frequency cannot be parsed.
+    '''
+    filtered_checks = list(checks)
+
+    for check_config in consistency_config.get('checks', DEFAULT_CHECKS):
+        check = check_config['name']
+        if checks and check not in checks:
+            continue
+
+        frequency_delta = parse_frequency(check_config.get('frequency'))
+        if not frequency_delta:
+            continue
+
+        check_time = read_check_time(
+            make_check_time_path(location_config, borg_repository_id, check)
+        )
+        if not check_time:
+            continue
+
+        # If we've not yet reached the time when the frequency dictates we're ready for another
+        # check, skip this check.
+        if datetime.datetime.now() < check_time + frequency_delta:
+            remaining = check_time + frequency_delta - datetime.datetime.now()
+            logger.info(
+                f"Skipping {check} check due to configured frequency; {remaining} until next check"
+            )
+            filtered_checks.remove(check)
+
+    return tuple(filtered_checks)
+
+
+def make_check_flags(checks, check_last=None, prefix=None):
     '''
     Given a parsed sequence of checks, transform it into tuple of command-line flags.
 
@@ -66,27 +172,67 @@ def _make_check_flags(checks, check_last=None, prefix=None):
         last_flags = ()
         prefix_flags = ()
         if check_last:
-            logger.warning(
+            logger.info('Ignoring check_last option, as "archives" is not in consistency checks')
-                'Ignoring check_last option, as "archives" is not in consistency checks.'
-            )
         if prefix:
-            logger.warning(
+            logger.info(
-                'Ignoring consistency prefix option, as "archives" is not in consistency checks.'
+                'Ignoring consistency prefix option, as "archives" is not in consistency checks'
             )
 
     common_flags = last_flags + prefix_flags + (('--verify-data',) if 'data' in checks else ())
 
-    if set(DEFAULT_CHECKS).issubset(set(checks)):
+    if {'repository', 'archives'}.issubset(set(checks)):
         return common_flags
 
     return (
-        tuple('--{}-only'.format(check) for check in checks if check in DEFAULT_CHECKS)
+        tuple('--{}-only'.format(check) for check in checks if check in ('repository', 'archives'))
         + common_flags
     )
 
 
+def make_check_time_path(location_config, borg_repository_id, check_type):
+    '''
+    Given a location configuration dict, a Borg repository ID, and the name of a check type
+    ("repository", "archives", etc.), return a path for recording that check's time (the time of
+    that check last occurring).
+    '''
+    return os.path.join(
+        os.path.expanduser(
+            location_config.get(
+                'borgmatic_source_directory', state.DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY
+            )
+        ),
+        'checks',
+        borg_repository_id,
+        check_type,
+    )
+
+
+def write_check_time(path):  # pragma: no cover
+    '''
+    Record a check time of now as the modification time of the given path.
+    '''
+    logger.debug(f'Writing check time at {path}')
+
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), mode=0o700, exist_ok=True)
+    pathlib.Path(path, mode=0o600).touch()
+
+
+def read_check_time(path):
+    '''
+    Return the check time based on the modification time of the given path. Return None if the path
+    doesn't exist.
+    '''
+    logger.debug(f'Reading check time from {path}')
+
+    try:
+        return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(os.stat(path).st_mtime)
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return None
+
+
 def check_archives(
     repository,
+    location_config,
     storage_config,
     consistency_config,
     local_path='borg',
@@ -102,13 +248,33 @@ def check_archives(
     Borg archives for consistency.
 
     If there are no consistency checks to run, skip running them.
+
+    Raises ValueError if the Borg repository ID cannot be determined.
     '''
-    checks = _parse_checks(consistency_config, only_checks)
+    try:
+        borg_repository_id = json.loads(
+            info.display_archives_info(
+                repository,
+                storage_config,
+                argparse.Namespace(json=True, archive=None),
+                local_path,
+                remote_path,
+            )
+        )['repository']['id']
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, KeyError):
+        raise ValueError(f'Cannot determine Borg repository ID for {repository}')
+
+    checks = filter_checks_on_frequency(
+        location_config,
+        consistency_config,
+        borg_repository_id,
+        parse_checks(consistency_config, only_checks),
+    )
     check_last = consistency_config.get('check_last', None)
     lock_wait = None
     extra_borg_options = storage_config.get('extra_borg_options', {}).get('check', '')
 
-    if set(checks).intersection(set(DEFAULT_CHECKS + ('data',))):
+    if set(checks).intersection({'repository', 'archives', 'data'}):
         lock_wait = storage_config.get('lock_wait', None)
 
         verbosity_flags = ()
@@ -122,7 +288,7 @@ def check_archives(
         full_command = (
             (local_path, 'check')
             + (('--repair',) if repair else ())
-            + _make_check_flags(checks, check_last, prefix)
+            + make_check_flags(checks, check_last, prefix)
             + (('--remote-path', remote_path) if remote_path else ())
             + (('--lock-wait', str(lock_wait)) if lock_wait else ())
             + verbosity_flags
@@ -131,12 +297,16 @@ def check_archives(
             + (repository,)
         )
 
-        # The Borg repair option trigger an interactive prompt, which won't work when output is
+        # The Borg repair option triggers an interactive prompt, which won't work when output is
         # captured. And progress messes with the terminal directly.
         if repair or progress:
             execute_command(full_command, output_file=DO_NOT_CAPTURE)
         else:
             execute_command(full_command)
 
+        for check in checks:
+            write_check_time(make_check_time_path(location_config, borg_repository_id, check))
+
     if 'extract' in checks:
         extract.extract_last_archive_dry_run(repository, lock_wait, local_path, remote_path)
+        write_check_time(make_check_time_path(location_config, borg_repository_id, 'extract'))

borgmatic/borg/create.py

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import os
 import pathlib
 import tempfile
 
-from borgmatic.borg import feature
+from borgmatic.borg import feature, state
 from borgmatic.execute import DO_NOT_CAPTURE, execute_command, execute_command_with_processes
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def make_exclude_flags(location_config, exclude_filename=None):
     )
 
 
-DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY = '~/.borgmatic'
+DEFAULT_ARCHIVE_NAME_FORMAT = '{hostname}-{now:%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f}'
 
 
 def borgmatic_source_directories(borgmatic_source_directory):
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ def borgmatic_source_directories(borgmatic_source_directory):
     Return a list of borgmatic-specific source directories used for state like database backups.
     '''
     if not borgmatic_source_directory:
-        borgmatic_source_directory = DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY
+        borgmatic_source_directory = state.DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY
 
     return (
         [borgmatic_source_directory]
@@ -192,9 +192,6 @@ def borgmatic_source_directories(borgmatic_source_directory):
     )
 
 
-DEFAULT_ARCHIVE_NAME_FORMAT = '{hostname}-{now:%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f}'
-
-
 def create_archive(
     dry_run,
     repository,

borgmatic/borg/state.py

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY = '~/.borgmatic'

borgmatic/commands/arguments.py

@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ def make_parsers():
         choices=('repository', 'archives', 'data', 'extract'),
         dest='only',
         action='append',
-        help='Run a particular consistency check (repository, archives, data, or extract) instead of configured checks; can specify flag multiple times',
+        help='Run a particular consistency check (repository, archives, data, or extract) instead of configured checks (subject to configured frequency, can specify flag multiple times)',
     )
     check_group.add_argument('-h', '--help', action='help', help='Show this help message and exit')
 

borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py

@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ def run_actions(
         logger.info('{}: Running consistency checks'.format(repository))
         borg_check.check_archives(
             repository,
+            location,
             storage,
             consistency,
             local_path=local_path,

borgmatic/config/normalize.py

@@ -24,3 +24,8 @@ def normalize(config):
     cronhub = config.get('hooks', {}).get('cronhub')
     if isinstance(cronhub, str):
         config['hooks']['cronhub'] = {'ping_url': cronhub}
+
+    # Upgrade consistency checks from a list of strings to a list of dicts.
+    checks = config.get('consistency', {}).get('checks')
+    if isinstance(checks, list) and len(checks) and isinstance(checks[0], str):
+        config['consistency']['checks'] = [{'name': check_type} for check_type in checks]

borgmatic/config/schema.yaml

@@ -447,6 +447,11 @@ properties:
             checks:
                 type: array
                 items:
+                    type: object
+                    required: ['name']
+                    additionalProperties: false
+                    properties:
+                        name:
                             type: string
                             enum:
                                 - repository
@@ -454,19 +459,33 @@ properties:
                                 - data
                                 - extract
                                 - disabled
-                    uniqueItems: true
                             description: |
-                    List of one or more consistency checks to run: "repository",
+                                Name of consistency check to run: "repository",
-                    "archives", "data", and/or "extract". Defaults to
+                                "archives", "data", and/or "extract". Set to
-                    "repository" and "archives". Set to "disabled" to disable
+                                "disabled" to disable all consistency checks.
-                    all consistency checks. "repository" checks the consistency
+                                "repository" checks the consistency of the
-                    of the repository, "archives" checks all of the archives,
+                                repository, "archives" checks all of the
-                    "data" verifies the integrity of the data within the
+                                archives, "data" verifies the integrity of the
-                    archives, and "extract" does an extraction dry-run of the
+                                data within the archives, and "extract" does an
-                    most recent archive. Note that "data" implies "archives".
+                                extraction dry-run of the most recent archive.
-                example:
+                                Note that "data" implies "archives".
-                    - repository
+                            example: repository
-                    - archives
+                        frequency:
+                            type: string
+                            description: |
+                                How frequently to run this type of consistency
+                                check (as a best effort). The value is a number
+                                followed by a unit of time. E.g., "2 weeks" to
+                                run this consistency check no more than every
+                                two weeks for a given repository or "1 month" to
+                                run it no more than monthly. Defaults to
+                                "always": running this check every time checks
+                                are run.
+                            example: 2 weeks
+                description: |
+                    List of one or more consistency checks to run on a periodic
+                    basis (if "frequency" is set) or every time borgmatic runs
+                    checks (if "frequency" is omitted).
             check_repositories:
                 type: array
                 items:

borgmatic/hooks/dump.py

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import logging
 import os
 import shutil
 
-from borgmatic.borg.create import DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY
+from borgmatic.borg.state import DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 

docs/how-to/deal-with-very-large-backups.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ consistency checks with `check` on a much less frequent basis (e.g. with
 
 Another option is to customize your consistency checks. The default
 consistency checks run both full-repository checks and per-archive checks
-within each repository.
+within each repository no more than once every two weeks.
 
 But if you find that archive checks are too slow, for example, you can
 configure borgmatic to run repository checks only. Configure this in the
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ configure borgmatic to run repository checks only. Configure this in the
 ```yaml
 consistency:
     checks:
-        - repository
+        - name: repository
 ```
 
 Here are the available checks from fastest to slowest:
@@ -70,6 +70,33 @@ Here are the available checks from fastest to slowest:
 
 See [Borg's check documentation](https://borgbackup.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage/check.html) for more information.
 
+### Check frequency
+
+You can optionally configure checks to run on a periodic basis rather than
+every time borgmatic runs checks. For instance:
+
+```yaml
+consistency:
+    checks:
+        - name: repository
+          frequency: 2 weeks
+```
+
+This tells borgmatic to run this consistency check at most once every two
+weeks for a given repository. The `frequency` value is a number followed by a
+unit of time, e.g. "3 days", "1 week", "2 months", etc. The `frequency`
+defaults to "always", which means run this check every time checks run.
+
+Unlike a real scheduler like cron, borgmatic only makes a best effort to run
+checks on the configured frequency. It compares that frequency with how long
+it's been since the last check for a given repository (as recorded in a file
+within `~/.borgmatic/checks`). If it hasn't been long enough, the check is
+skipped. And you still have to run `borgmatic check` (or just `borgmatic`) in
+order for checks to run, even when a `frequency` is configured!
+
+
+### Disabling checks
+
 If that's still too slow, you can disable consistency checks entirely,
 either for a single repository or for all repositories.
 
@@ -78,7 +105,7 @@ Disabling all consistency checks looks like this:
 ```yaml
 consistency:
     checks:
-        - disabled
+        - name: disabled
 ```
 
 Or, if you have multiple repositories in your borgmatic configuration file,
@@ -99,7 +126,8 @@ borgmatic check --only data --only extract
 ```
 
 This is useful for running slow consistency checks on an infrequent basis,
-separate from your regular checks.
+separate from your regular checks. It is still subject to any configured
+check frequencies.
 
 
 ## Troubleshooting

setup.py

@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ setup(
     },
     obsoletes=['atticmatic'],
     install_requires=(
+        'colorama>=0.4.1,<0.5',
         'jsonschema',
         'requests',
         'ruamel.yaml>0.15.0,<0.18.0',
         'setuptools',
-        'colorama>=0.4.1,<0.5',
     ),
     include_package_data=True,
     python_requires='>=3.7',

tests/integration/config/test_validate.py

@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ def test_parse_configuration_transforms_file_into_mapping():
 
         consistency:
             checks:
-                - repository
+                - name: repository
-                - archives
+                - name: archives
         '''
     )
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def test_parse_configuration_transforms_file_into_mapping():
     assert result == {
         'location': {'source_directories': ['/home', '/etc'], 'repositories': ['hostname.borg']},
         'retention': {'keep_daily': 7, 'keep_hourly': 24, 'keep_minutely': 60},
-        'consistency': {'checks': ['repository', 'archives']},
+        'consistency': {'checks': [{'name': 'repository'}, {'name': 'archives'}]},
     }
 
 

tests/unit/borg/test_check.py

@@ -17,172 +17,317 @@ def insert_execute_command_never():
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_returns_them_as_tuple():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': ['foo', 'disabled', 'bar']})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': [{'name': 'foo'}, {'name': 'bar'}]})
 
     assert checks == ('foo', 'bar')
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_with_missing_value_returns_defaults():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({})
 
-    assert checks == module.DEFAULT_CHECKS
+    assert checks == ('repository', 'archives')
 
 
-def test_parse_checks_with_blank_value_returns_defaults():
+def test_parse_checks_with_empty_list_returns_defaults():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': []})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': []})
 
-    assert checks == module.DEFAULT_CHECKS
+    assert checks == ('repository', 'archives')
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_with_none_value_returns_defaults():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': None})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': None})
 
-    assert checks == module.DEFAULT_CHECKS
+    assert checks == ('repository', 'archives')
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_with_disabled_returns_no_checks():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': ['disabled']})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': [{'name': 'foo'}, {'name': 'disabled'}]})
 
     assert checks == ()
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_with_data_check_also_injects_archives():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': ['data']})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': [{'name': 'data'}]})
 
     assert checks == ('data', 'archives')
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_with_data_check_passes_through_archives():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': ['data', 'archives']})
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': [{'name': 'data'}, {'name': 'archives'}]})
 
     assert checks == ('data', 'archives')
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_prefers_override_checks_to_configured_checks():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': ['archives']}, only_checks=['repository', 'extract'])
+    checks = module.parse_checks(
+        {'checks': [{'name': 'archives'}]}, only_checks=['repository', 'extract']
+    )
 
     assert checks == ('repository', 'extract')
 
 
 def test_parse_checks_with_override_data_check_also_injects_archives():
-    checks = module._parse_checks({'checks': ['extract']}, only_checks=['data'])
+    checks = module.parse_checks({'checks': [{'name': 'extract'}]}, only_checks=['data'])
 
     assert checks == ('data', 'archives')
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'frequency,expected_result',
+    (
+        (None, None),
+        ('always', None),
+        ('1 hour', module.datetime.timedelta(hours=1)),
+        ('2 hours', module.datetime.timedelta(hours=2)),
+        ('1 day', module.datetime.timedelta(days=1)),
+        ('2 days', module.datetime.timedelta(days=2)),
+        ('1 week', module.datetime.timedelta(weeks=1)),
+        ('2 weeks', module.datetime.timedelta(weeks=2)),
+        ('1 month', module.datetime.timedelta(weeks=4)),
+        ('2 months', module.datetime.timedelta(weeks=8)),
+        ('1 year', module.datetime.timedelta(days=365)),
+        ('2 years', module.datetime.timedelta(days=365 * 2)),
+    ),
+)
+def test_parse_frequency_parses_into_timedeltas(frequency, expected_result):
+    assert module.parse_frequency(frequency) == expected_result
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'frequency', ('sometime', 'x days', '3 decades',),
+)
+def test_parse_frequency_raises_on_parse_error(frequency):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.parse_frequency(frequency)
+
+
+def test_filter_checks_on_frequency_without_config_uses_default_checks():
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_frequency').and_return(
+        module.datetime.timedelta(weeks=2)
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('read_check_time').and_return(None)
+
+    assert module.filter_checks_on_frequency(
+        location_config={},
+        consistency_config={},
+        borg_repository_id='repo',
+        checks=('repository', 'archives'),
+    ) == ('repository', 'archives')
+
+
+def test_filter_checks_on_frequency_retains_unconfigured_check():
+    assert module.filter_checks_on_frequency(
+        location_config={}, consistency_config={}, borg_repository_id='repo', checks=('data',),
+    ) == ('data',)
+
+
+def test_filter_checks_on_frequency_retains_check_without_frequency():
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_frequency').and_return(None)
+
+    assert module.filter_checks_on_frequency(
+        location_config={},
+        consistency_config={'checks': [{'name': 'archives'}]},
+        borg_repository_id='repo',
+        checks=('archives',),
+    ) == ('archives',)
+
+
+def test_filter_checks_on_frequency_retains_check_with_elapsed_frequency():
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_frequency').and_return(
+        module.datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('read_check_time').and_return(
+        module.datetime.datetime(year=module.datetime.MINYEAR, month=1, day=1)
+    )
+
+    assert module.filter_checks_on_frequency(
+        location_config={},
+        consistency_config={'checks': [{'name': 'archives', 'frequency': '1 hour'}]},
+        borg_repository_id='repo',
+        checks=('archives',),
+    ) == ('archives',)
+
+
+def test_filter_checks_on_frequency_retains_check_with_missing_check_time_file():
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_frequency').and_return(
+        module.datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('read_check_time').and_return(None)
+
+    assert module.filter_checks_on_frequency(
+        location_config={},
+        consistency_config={'checks': [{'name': 'archives', 'frequency': '1 hour'}]},
+        borg_repository_id='repo',
+        checks=('archives',),
+    ) == ('archives',)
+
+
+def test_filter_checks_on_frequency_skips_check_with_unelapsed_frequency():
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_frequency').and_return(
+        module.datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('read_check_time').and_return(module.datetime.datetime.now())
+
+    assert (
+        module.filter_checks_on_frequency(
+            location_config={},
+            consistency_config={'checks': [{'name': 'archives', 'frequency': '1 hour'}]},
+            borg_repository_id='repo',
+            checks=('archives',),
+        )
+        == ()
+    )
+
+
 def test_make_check_flags_with_repository_check_returns_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('repository',))
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('repository',))
 
     assert flags == ('--repository-only',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_archives_check_returns_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('archives',))
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('archives',))
 
     assert flags == ('--archives-only',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_data_check_returns_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('data',))
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('data',))
 
     assert flags == ('--verify-data',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_extract_omits_extract_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('extract',))
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('extract',))
 
     assert flags == ()
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_default_checks_and_default_prefix_returns_default_flags():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(module.DEFAULT_CHECKS, prefix=module.DEFAULT_PREFIX)
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('repository', 'archives'), prefix=module.DEFAULT_PREFIX)
 
     assert flags == ('--prefix', module.DEFAULT_PREFIX)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_all_checks_and_default_prefix_returns_default_flags():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(
-        module.DEFAULT_CHECKS + ('extract',), prefix=module.DEFAULT_PREFIX
+        ('repository', 'archives', 'extract'), prefix=module.DEFAULT_PREFIX
     )
 
     assert flags == ('--prefix', module.DEFAULT_PREFIX)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_archives_check_and_last_includes_last_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('archives',), check_last=3)
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('archives',), check_last=3)
 
     assert flags == ('--archives-only', '--last', '3')
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_repository_check_and_last_omits_last_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('repository',), check_last=3)
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('repository',), check_last=3)
 
     assert flags == ('--repository-only',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_default_checks_and_last_includes_last_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(module.DEFAULT_CHECKS, check_last=3)
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('repository', 'archives'), check_last=3)
 
     assert flags == ('--last', '3')
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_archives_check_and_prefix_includes_prefix_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('archives',), prefix='foo-')
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('archives',), prefix='foo-')
 
     assert flags == ('--archives-only', '--prefix', 'foo-')
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_archives_check_and_empty_prefix_omits_prefix_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('archives',), prefix='')
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('archives',), prefix='')
 
     assert flags == ('--archives-only',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_archives_check_and_none_prefix_omits_prefix_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('archives',), prefix=None)
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('archives',), prefix=None)
 
     assert flags == ('--archives-only',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_repository_check_and_prefix_omits_prefix_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(('repository',), prefix='foo-')
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('repository',), prefix='foo-')
 
     assert flags == ('--repository-only',)
 
 
 def test_make_check_flags_with_default_checks_and_prefix_includes_prefix_flag():
-    flags = module._make_check_flags(module.DEFAULT_CHECKS, prefix='foo-')
+    flags = module.make_check_flags(('repository', 'archives'), prefix='foo-')
 
     assert flags == ('--prefix', 'foo-')
 
 
+def test_read_check_time_does_not_raise():
+    flexmock(module.os).should_receive('stat').and_return(flexmock(st_mtime=123))
+
+    assert module.read_check_time('/path')
+
+
+def test_read_check_time_on_missing_file_does_not_raise():
+    flexmock(module.os).should_receive('stat').and_raise(FileNotFoundError)
+
+    assert module.read_check_time('/path') is None
+
+
 def test_check_archives_with_progress_calls_borg_with_progress_parameter():
     checks = ('repository',)
     consistency_config = {'check_last': None}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').and_return(())
     flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command').never()
     flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command').with_args(
         ('borg', 'check', '--progress', 'repo'), output_file=module.DO_NOT_CAPTURE
     ).once()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config, progress=True
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
+        progress=True,
     )
 
 
 def test_check_archives_with_repair_calls_borg_with_repair_parameter():
     checks = ('repository',)
     consistency_config = {'check_last': None}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').and_return(())
     flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command').never()
     flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command').with_args(
         ('borg', 'check', '--repair', 'repo'), output_file=module.DO_NOT_CAPTURE
     ).once()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config, repair=True
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
+        repair=True,
     )
 
 
@@ -198,14 +343,59 @@ def test_check_archives_with_repair_calls_borg_with_repair_parameter():
 def test_check_archives_calls_borg_with_parameters(checks):
     check_last = flexmock()
     consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').with_args(
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').with_args(
         checks, check_last, module.DEFAULT_PREFIX
     ).and_return(())
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
+    )
+
+
+def test_check_archives_with_json_error_raises():
+    checks = ('archives',)
+    check_last = flexmock()
+    consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"unexpected": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.check_archives(
+            repository='repo',
+            location_config={},
+            storage_config={},
+            consistency_config=consistency_config,
+        )
+
+
+def test_check_archives_with_missing_json_keys_raises():
+    checks = ('archives',)
+    check_last = flexmock()
+    consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return('{invalid JSON')
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.check_archives(
+            repository='repo',
+            location_config={},
+            storage_config={},
+            consistency_config=consistency_config,
         )
 
 
@@ -213,49 +403,82 @@ def test_check_archives_with_extract_check_calls_extract_only():
     checks = ('extract',)
     check_last = flexmock()
     consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').never()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').never()
     flexmock(module.extract).should_receive('extract_last_archive_dry_run').once()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
     insert_execute_command_never()
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )
 
 
 def test_check_archives_with_log_info_calls_borg_with_info_parameter():
     checks = ('repository',)
     consistency_config = {'check_last': None}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').and_return(())
     insert_logging_mock(logging.INFO)
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', '--info', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )
 
 
 def test_check_archives_with_log_debug_calls_borg_with_debug_parameter():
     checks = ('repository',)
     consistency_config = {'check_last': None}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').and_return(())
     insert_logging_mock(logging.DEBUG)
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', '--debug', '--show-rc', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )
 
 
 def test_check_archives_without_any_checks_bails():
     consistency_config = {'check_last': None}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
     insert_execute_command_never()
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )
 
 
@@ -263,14 +486,21 @@ def test_check_archives_with_local_path_calls_borg_via_local_path():
     checks = ('repository',)
     check_last = flexmock()
     consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').with_args(
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').with_args(
         checks, check_last, module.DEFAULT_PREFIX
     ).and_return(())
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg1', 'check', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
         repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
         storage_config={},
         consistency_config=consistency_config,
         local_path='borg1',
@@ -281,14 +511,21 @@ def test_check_archives_with_remote_path_calls_borg_with_remote_path_parameters(
     checks = ('repository',)
     check_last = flexmock()
     consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').with_args(
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').with_args(
         checks, check_last, module.DEFAULT_PREFIX
     ).and_return(())
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', '--remote-path', 'borg1', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
         repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
         storage_config={},
         consistency_config=consistency_config,
         remote_path='borg1',
@@ -299,14 +536,23 @@ def test_check_archives_with_lock_wait_calls_borg_with_lock_wait_parameters():
     checks = ('repository',)
     check_last = flexmock()
     consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').with_args(
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').with_args(
         checks, check_last, module.DEFAULT_PREFIX
     ).and_return(())
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', '--lock-wait', '5', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={'lock_wait': 5}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={'lock_wait': 5},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )
 
 
@@ -315,26 +561,42 @@ def test_check_archives_with_retention_prefix():
     check_last = flexmock()
     prefix = 'foo-'
     consistency_config = {'check_last': check_last, 'prefix': prefix}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').with_args(
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').with_args(
         checks, check_last, prefix
     ).and_return(())
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
-        repository='repo', storage_config={}, consistency_config=consistency_config
+        repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
+        storage_config={},
+        consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )
 
 
 def test_check_archives_with_extra_borg_options_calls_borg_with_extra_options():
     checks = ('repository',)
     consistency_config = {'check_last': None}
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_parse_checks').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_checks')
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('_make_check_flags').and_return(())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('filter_checks_on_frequency').and_return(checks)
+    flexmock(module.info).should_receive('display_archives_info').and_return(
+        '{"repository": {"id": "repo"}}'
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_flags').and_return(())
     insert_execute_command_mock(('borg', 'check', '--extra', '--options', 'repo'))
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('make_check_time_path')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('write_check_time')
 
     module.check_archives(
         repository='repo',
+        location_config={},
         storage_config={'extra_borg_options': {'check': '--extra --options'}},
         consistency_config=consistency_config,
     )

tests/unit/borg/test_create.py

@@ -271,7 +271,9 @@ def test_borgmatic_source_directories_defaults_when_directory_not_given():
     flexmock(module.os.path).should_receive('exists').and_return(True)
     flexmock(module.os.path).should_receive('expanduser')
 
-    assert module.borgmatic_source_directories(None) == [module.DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY]
+    assert module.borgmatic_source_directories(None) == [
+        module.state.DEFAULT_BORGMATIC_SOURCE_DIRECTORY
+    ]
 
 
 DEFAULT_ARCHIVE_NAME = '{hostname}-{now:%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f}'

tests/unit/config/test_normalize.py

@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ from borgmatic.config import normalize as module
             {'hooks': {'cronhub': 'https://example.com'}},
             {'hooks': {'cronhub': {'ping_url': 'https://example.com'}}},
         ),
+        (
+            {'consistency': {'checks': ['archives']}},
+            {'consistency': {'checks': [{'name': 'archives'}]}},
+        ),
     ),
 )
 def test_normalize_applies_hard_coded_normalization_to_config(config, expected_config):