Can updatedb update a single directory?

neo_in_matrix · 02-24-2005, 07:16 AM

I know if I run `updatedb` it would index all filesystem files. Sometimes, I install files into a directory and I want the new files to be in the database. I want a command such as `updatedb /opt/appdir` to update the new files information into the global database, not changing others. I consulted man but could not figure a way to update a single directory. Is it possible to do it?

abisko00 · 02-24-2005, 07:29 AM

Have you tried updatedb --localpaths='/path/to/directory'?

This is from 'man updatedb', btw.

neo_in_matrix · 02-24-2005, 07:56 AM

I am using Fedora Core 3. I tried man updatedb, man locate/man slocate but none of them has the --localpaths info documented.

What's wrong with FC3?

And, I don't think `updatedb --localpaths=/opt/mozilla.org` works for me. It still takes several minutes to complete. /opt/mozilla.org has Firefox and Thunderbird installed. That does not need to take so long right?

abisko00 · 02-24-2005, 08:48 AM

I tried this on my homedirectory (33000 files) and it took appr. 30 s to complete.
Did you try it with ' around your path?

EDIT: here is the section from 'man updatedb':

Code:

OPTIONS
       --localpaths='path1 path2...'
              Non-network directories to  put  in  the  database.
              Default is /.

       --netpaths='path1 path2...'
              Network (NFS, AFS, RFS, etc.) directories to put in
              the database.  The  environment  variable  NETPATHS
              also sets this value.  Default is none.

       --prunepaths='path1 path2...'
              Directories to not put in the database, which would
              otherwise be.  The environment variable  PRUNEPATHS
              also  sets  this  value.   Default is /tmp /usr/tmp
              /var/tmp /afs.

       --prunefs='path...'
              File systems to not  put  in  the  database,  which
              would  otherwise  be.   Note  that files are pruned
              when a file system  is  reached;  Any  file  system
              mounted  under  an  undesired  file  system will be
              ignored.  The  environment  variable  PRUNEFS  also
              sets this value.  Default is nfs NFS proc.

neo_in_matrix · 02-24-2005, 10:03 AM

What's wrong with my system? I run `man updatedb` but it only a very short message (less than 2 pages), without the text you have.

Tinkster · 02-24-2005, 12:58 PM

Your system is fine ... his distro doesn't use slocate
but the ordinary, security-hole infested version :} which
has a different set of options ... only downside: you
can't update an individual directory

Cheers,
Tink

neo_in_matrix · 02-24-2005, 07:23 PM

I don't understand. Fedora Core 3 is believed to have the latest software (they say this on there website).

BTW, I can run slocate. For example: slocate glib.h

Tinkster · 02-24-2005, 08:38 PM

Heh... yup, and that's exactly what I said: The problem
is not with your installation but with his. He uses the OLD,
insecure locate/updatedb rather than the NEW, secure
slocate. And I didn't say you can't run it ...

Cheers,
Tink

Electro · 02-24-2005, 09:23 PM

Learn the find utility because it is just as quick as the locate utility. Depending on the filesystem used. Searching for files should take less than a minute when using the find utility.

Tinkster · 02-24-2005, 09:57 PM

And less than two seconds using locate ;)

That said: find has MANY things to offer that
locate can't cover, and I use it heaps.

Cheers,
Tink

neo_in_matrix · 02-25-2005, 04:25 AM

On my FC3 box:
>slocate --version
Secure Locate 2.7 - Released January 24, 2003

What version do you have?

abisko00 · 02-25-2005, 05:06 AM

Sorry to hear about the 'old and insecure' version of locate in SuSE.

And also sorry for the previously provided wrong information: updatedb --localpaths='' will do the same as updatedb -U path: it creates a database from this path and replaces the previously existing database. It will not update the existing database with the specified path.

neo_in_matrix · 02-25-2005, 06:00 AM

Thanks for your reply. It's helpful :-)

And where can I download the latest version of slocate? I prefer prebuilt RPM packages. Thanks again.

abisko00 · 02-25-2005, 06:56 AM

I guess with 2.7 your are pretty up-to-date, the problem seems to be my SuSE, not your FC3 version.

But have a look here:
http://rpmseek.com/rpm-pl/slocate.ht...ate:PN:0:0:0:0

abisko00 · 02-25-2005, 07:04 AM

I was curious to find out more about the difference between locate and slocate. It seems that slocate will show only files the actual user has access to, whereas locate shows all data. I guess this doesn't matter on a single user system. Is there more to know?