Bash script to remove files older than 3 days
 

Can someone help me with a bash script to remove files older than 3 days in directory /u1/database/prod/arch?

Hi,

You could use a 'simple' one-liner for this:

find /u1/database/prod/arch -type f -mtime +3 -exec rm {} \;

Or as bash script:
The only 2 commands used are find and rm.

Find looks for files (-type f), this to exclude directories, that are older then 3 days (-mtime +3). All it finds is given to rm (-exec rm {} \; ).

You could also place the rm statement outside of find, which is supposed to be faster:

find /u1/database/prod/arch -type f -mtime +3 | xargs rm

All the three examples do their searching recursively.

man find for details.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for your help.

find /u1/database/prod/arch -type f -mtime +3 -exec rm {} \;

What does the ; at the end do?

man is your friend. Try find /u1/database/prod/arch -type f -mtime +3 -exec rm {} \;

this command finds all the files under /u1/database/prod/arch and it's subfolders, that are "regular files" (-type f) not directories, device files or something like that, and that have been modified at least 3 days ago (-mtime +3) and then executes "rm <filename>" for those files.

Wonderful
 

Thanks for your help!!!

The "\;" at the end tells find where the end of the -exec command is. It can't just be the end of the line because the find command syntax allows further tests and actions after the -exec and it can't be just ; because the shell would see it as the end of a shell command and remove it. The \ "escapes" it from being seen by the shell as the end of a shell command.

You can also do ';'

I would like to say that you can use option -delete to remove files instead of tricks with rm and xargs.
Sample:

find /path/dir -name "*.bz2" -type f -Btime +30d -delete

Also keep in mind that file node actually has three times: created, last accessed, last modified.

Hi,

Can you explain what the {} \; characters are for.

thanks

Hi,

The \; part is already explained by catkin in the post you quoted.

The {} holds what is found by find and given to the executed command. -exec <command> {} is the general form.

Hope this helps.

The post you quoted already explained part of it "{}" is a placeholder---look at the man page for find--under the -exec command

@trunikov

1. Unix does not a have file creation time
http://linux.die.net/man/1/find

2. If you've really got RH9 (Shrike), you should really update to a current distro. That one hasn't been updated in years and would be likely to be exploited.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Linux
Try Fedora 12 or Centos 5.4

I like this way, but -Btime does not exist on my version of find, and it's not +30d for me but just +30

So I ended up using:


find /path/dir -mtime +30 -delete


as I wanted to delete all files and all directories under /path/dir

Thanks!

hello!
 

Hello

im new..

regars to all

Don't post in an old thread if you do not have anything substantial to add or have a related question. LinuxQuestions.org Member Intro is a good place to introduce yourself and get your first post.

Hello all. Great thread so far, really helpful. I do have a question though.

I want to take this script
and add logging to it.

I want to see if there is a way to get a list of what is found before it's deleted, and after it's deleted. I know there is a verbose option for rm, but I can't seem to find one for find. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Please don't necro-post ie dig up threads so old. Instead, start a new thread.
Thank you.

In brief, find doesn't have a logging option; one approach is to use -print (instead of -exec rm ...) at the end of a copy of the same find cmd and re-direct to a file, then run the find ... rm version.

After reading the thread, and particularly post 16, I figured it was a safe bump. I would've linked to this thread anyway as a reference, because people would've told me to "Search n00b" anyway. Anyway, thanks for the info.

find /path/dir -mtime +30 -delete
this is not working for me.

There is a way to run 'find' only once if use 'exec' to redirect:
or as a subshell version:

I'm posting in an old thread!

It's quite easy to tell who sits on their fat butt on a computer all day and who works in construction by the way some of you jerks act towards others on the internet.
If people aren't supposed to post in "an old thread", then it needs to be removed from the sitemap.xml instead of being refreshed every week for Google to keep on the first page of search so if you have a problem, take it up with the Admin who could have easily removed this page from the sitemap long ago.

You had a "newbie" introducing themselves and for that you have to act like a total bloke?

Hello dsoria. I'm azvampyre, and I'm a building contractor who works for a living, but like to program in my sparsely spare time.
Do you see how much friendlier people who work out in the nice sunlight are towards others, drunna? Maybe you should get some sun and "lighten up". I'm sorry you're fat and pale, but don't take it out on the innocent, okay.

Hi,Yes you are, and that is against the LQ Rules.

No need to be condescending. It seems I'm not the one that has a problem, you seem to have one. Take your own advise and contact the LQ site owner if you want to address your issues related to LQ.

Yes I pointed out that digging up old threads just to introduce oneself isn't the correct thing to do (it is actually against the LQ rules). I also pointed out that there is a specific sub-forum for people that want to introduce themselves.

Again: Don't be so condescending (and learn to spell)

BTW: Reported.

I need to reply to this insults

azvampyre
I think your kind of breed needs to be investigated further, as I don't know of an individual that can walk out on the sun wihtout any protection. Do you have it?

My best Regards to all LQ

Hm, I have known people who work on construction and others who sit on their butt all day. I can assure you that there are "jerks" on both sides.

Judging on who is a "jerk" and who is not by the work they do is a rather simple-minded point of view.

Moderator response
 

Hi,

Enough!LQ is a moderated forum and members do help by providing insight to new users.
There is no need for personal attacks;druuna's post to a newbie was not in violation. Your responding post to a nearly two year old post is not warranted nor should you have posted. If you felt that a post warrants moderation then please report that post. Your tirade and personal attacks are something we will not tolerate. Please review the LQ Rules!

My suggestion to you is to tone it down;
As to your references to sitemap retention, I suggest that you open a new thread in LQ Suggestions & Feedback for topics that you think need improvement, attention or revision(s).

If you have any questions then feel free to contact me personally via PM/email.

To everyone: No further posting of non related topics in this thread!

Back on topic!

Reporting deletions
 

There is an easy way to do that. find allows multiple usage of exec like this:

Another idea is to tell rm to report any deletions with -v:

I prefer the first method, as the text is easier to change.

btw.: The parameter "-delete" is not available for all versions of find, but rm should be ;-)