using locate command

stabu · 03-25-2004, 04:59 AM

Hi,

The lcoate command is a quick way of finding files, because it refers to a database of file location information.

However, on my Knoppix HD install, if the database is more than 8 days old, it actually *refuses* to look. That's what you call impertinence!

You see, in many cases the files are much older than 8 days, and I don't want to use "find".

However, instead of hitting the computer :-), I look up "man locate" which turns out to be a very short file, which says very little.Moreover, it doesn't say how to change this 8 day limit.

I looked up "man updatedb", but this is a really big file, and - I didnt read it all - I couldn't find a way to change this limit in it.

So I was hoping somebody here might know .....

jschiwal · 03-25-2004, 05:22 AM

Run the command 'updatedb' as root to update the locate database.

stabu · 03-25-2004, 05:49 AM

Thanks for the answer, but I should have mentioned I didn't want to do that either.

I happen to know that the file I'm looking for is well over 8 days old. So it's not efficient to run updatedb for it.

virid · 03-25-2004, 11:48 AM

Did you try running "updatedb" as root?

stabu · 03-25-2004, 03:20 PM

Thank you for your replies. I'm not sure if you're getting my point.

I refuse to run updatedb if the file I'm looking for is over 8 days old. I want to access the locatedb without updating it.

This is Linux. The 8 days should be configurable. I want to know how. Sure I can run updatedb, I probably will, soon. But I want to know how to get over that 8 day barrier.

jschiwal · 03-26-2004, 04:07 AM

Updatedb should be run by a cron job automatically. However, if you turn off your computer, the cronjob does not run. Make sure you have anacron installed.

I think you are misunderstanding the error. The 8 day limit is because the updatedb is too old, not the file itself.

updatedb is a script file that runs slocate. The configuration file is located at /etc/updatedb.conf

jschiwal · 03-26-2004, 04:13 AM

Updatedb should be run by a cron job automatically. However, if you turn off your computer, the cronjob does not run. Make sure you have anacron installed.

I think you are misunderstanding the error. The 8 day limit is because the updatedb is too old, not the file itself.

updatedb is a script file that runs slocate. The configuration file is located at /etc/updatedb.conf