Burning CD while updatedb is running.
 

kernel 2.6.21.5, GNU (Slackware 12.0).
updatedb: Secure Locate 3.1 - Released March 7, 2006.
Cdrecord-ProDVD-Clone 2.01.01a23.

Hi:
Some script in my system runs updatedb (in the background) on a periodic basis. I am wondering what would happen if it runs while I am burning a CD/DVD, a thing I usually do with cdrecord. Cannot this cause a buffer underrun? Thanks in advance.

Hi,

There's only one way to find out........ ;)

Seriously: This depends on how powerful your computer is, what is already running besides the 2 mentioned programs etc.

If underruns do occur you could change the updatedb script and nice the program (add something like nice -n 19 in front of the updatedb line).

And although it was meant to be funny, the only way to find out is indeed to just try and see.

Hope this helps.

I greped in /etc and found the script launching updatedb. It was in /etc/cron.daily. So I prefixed the line with 'nice -n 19'. One day, when I have a cheap DVD, I'll run cdrecord on one terminal and, in the middle of it, I'll run updatedb on another terminal and see what happens. On second thought, I can do this with any DVD, if I run cdrecord with the laser turned off. Thank you for your reply and please excuse the delay.