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grep syntax error?

Hi guys,

I'm studying for LPI, and got to solve this question:

Quote:

Find out which file contains the following entry:
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

So far I've tried out using two solutions to list the required files out of the whole system (/):

1)

Code:

grep -H -I -i -n -R 'root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash' / > /var/tmp/output 2> /var/tmp/error

Code:

find / -type f | xargs grep -H -I -i -n 'root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash' > /var/tmp/output 2> /var/tmp/error

The -H and -n options preface each match with the file name and line number of each match, respectively. The -i option ignores case. -I (capital "I") skips binary files.

The problem: both commands doesn't finish.. They hang and I have to kill the processes after 15 minutes...

So, how can I solve it? I am expecting 'probably': /etc/passwd inside /var/tmp/output and a lot of denial permission errors inside /var/tmp/error. Right?

Thanks in advance!
sleep

Why not let the command complete? You're on the right track

Just lost all that I typed so here is the short version... ;)

The following worked for me (as root)

Code:

# grep -Rl 'root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash' /

/etc/passwd

/etc/passwd.org

and if you want to use find... try this

Code:

# find / -type f -exec grep -l 'root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash' {} \;

/etc/passwd.org

/etc/passwd

Running as root will assure you you san all files on your box.

Hope this helps

sl33p,

Reduce the problem space. grep in /etc, not /
Add the options in one at a time.

The grep works properly here but its very slow (I tested on /etc) if you want to process every file on the filesystem maybe 15 min isn't long enough.

The fact the the command runs at all, shows the syntax is correct.