Can't update clamav

GraemeRS · 03-07-2024, 03:49 PM

After installing clamav, when I attempt to update via freshclam, I get:

sudo freshclam
ERROR: /var/log/clamav/freshclam.log is locked by another process
ERROR: Problem with internal logger (UpdateLogFile = /var/log/clamav/freshclam.log).
ERROR: initialize: libfreshclam init failed.
ERROR: Initialization error!

and:
ls -l /etc/clamav/freshclam.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 clamav adm 682 Mar 8 00:33 /etc/clamav/freshclam.conf

doesn't help.
Can anybody help?
Graeme

scasey · 03-07-2024, 05:04 PM

freshclam is already running? Maybe. Is it?

GraemeRS · 03-07-2024, 05:14 PM

I found that freshclam is already installed by the software manager.
Is that why I can't manually update it?
Does:
-rw-r--r-- 1 clamav adm 682 Mar 8 00:33 /etc/clamav/freshclam.conf
say that it is up to date as of March 8?
Graeme

michaelk · 03-07-2024, 05:21 PM

I'm guessing the clamav-update tool is running which automatically updates the database.

GraemeRS · 03-13-2024, 08:38 PM

I used:
lsof /var/log/clamav/freshclam.log
to find which process is locking the file with nothing but a blinking cursor in response.

ls -l /etc/clamav/freshclam.conf
gets the same response as previously, so that just referred to the installation date.
No good if definitions can't be updated.
Firefox wouldn't be involved would it?
Graeme

scasey · 03-14-2024, 12:02 AM

freshclam doesn’t update the freshclam.conf file, so looking at its listing doesn’t tell us anything about the update.

lsof lists the open files used by a running program. The log file isn’t a program.

What does the log file say? The last entry in mine is

Code:

ClamAV update process started at Wed Mar 13 21:23:06 2024
daily.cld database is up-to-date (version: 27213, sigs: 2054946, f-level: 90, builder: raynman)
main.cvd database is up-to-date (version: 62, sigs: 6647427, f-level: 90, builder: sigmgr)
bytecode.cld database is up-to-date (version: 335, sigs: 86, f-level: 90, builder: raynman)

Indicating that an update has run…
Frankly, I’m not sure what is running freshclam on my server. Probably a cron job I’m to lazy to look for right now…but the log file shows me that the update is running every three hours.

GraemeRS · 03-15-2024, 02:56 AM

I ran lsof which gave a million entries but none re clamav.
How do I access the logfile.
I want what you've got. Regular updates and email and download checking.
Graeme

GraemeRS · 03-19-2024, 09:20 PM

Clamav continues to be a mystery.
However it tells me:
clamav is already the newest version (0.103.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.22.04.1).

How do I (know that I) get regular signature updates and set it to scan incoming emails and downloads?
Or can I assume that I'm safe using Linux Mint 2211.33 Virginia and don't need to bother?
Graeme

scasey · 03-20-2024, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraemeRS

How do I access the logfile.
Graeme

Use cat or more (or less) to view the log file. You may need to be root.

GraemeRS · 03-20-2024, 09:53 PM

Can you put that in the context of a command please.
Graeme

uteck · 03-20-2024, 10:42 PM

Since the process is locked, you could try killing freshclam with

Quote:

killall -9 freshclam

then try running it again.

scasey · 03-20-2024, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraemeRS

Can you put that in the context of a command please.
Graeme

Those are the commands in bold.

Code:

cat /path/to/freshclam,log
more  /path/to/freshclam,log
less /path/to/freshclam,log

GraemeRS · 03-30-2024, 02:29 AM

Sorry scasey. I couldn't find a way to make any of those work.
At first I gave up but then thought I should say I'm thinking that there is expertise assumed of me that I don't have.
I'm a fairly recent convert to Linux and loving it. Learning to use Terminal is a challenge.
Regards,
Graeme