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Old 05-23-2009, 04:30 PM   #1
sl33p
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Registered: Dec 2008
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Question 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
2)
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
 
Old 05-23-2009, 04:38 PM   #2
jamescondron
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Why not let the command complete? You're on the right track
 
Old 05-23-2009, 04:40 PM   #3
eco
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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

Last edited by eco; 05-23-2009 at 04:43 PM. Reason: added find
 
Old 05-23-2009, 04:44 PM   #4
NeddySeagoon
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Registered: May 2009
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Distribution: Gentoo
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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.
 
  


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