Solved Trying to install 'locate' but failing to add group mlocate

[MvW]

I'm trying to install locate, following these instructions which seem to have worked by executing

opkg update
opkg install mlocate

Before I can use it, I have to make sure the database is filled, but when running

updatedb

it is complaining:

updatedb: can not find group mlocate[/CODE}

To add a group 'mlocate' with the appropriate permissions, I need the package 'addgroup' or 'synogroup' (as suggested alternative) alternative, but both are apparently not available in entware-ng.

Anyone have any pointers how to create the appropriate group? The instructions are not for Merlin but for Padavan, but looking at them, I can hardly image this coudn't be achieved on Merlin as well. Or am I too positive?

 

[ColinTaylor]

Do you specifically need mlocate? How about using GNU locate instead (findutils-locate)?

 

[MvW]

Do you specifically need mlocate? How about using GNU locate instead (findutils-locate)?

No, I don't. Thanks for the alternative.

 

[underdose]

You need to add the user mlocate to the group file under /etc in order to use the updatedb command.

You can achieve this by creating a group.add file under jffs > configs, with the content mlocate:x:666: . This way, whenever you reboot your router, user mlocate will be added to the group file and you won't need to add again manually.

Image for reference:

 

[MvW]

You need to add the user mlocate to the group file under /etc in order to use the updatedb command.

You can achieve this by creating a group.add file under jffs > configs, with the content mlocate:x:666: . This way, whenever you reboot your router, user mlocate will be added to the group file and you won't need to add again manually.

Image for reference:

View attachment 33345

Great solution. I couldn't achieve what I wanted with findutils-locate but with your solution locate from the package mlocate it works like a charm. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[joegreat]

You need to add the user mlocate to the group file under /etc in order to use the updatedb command.

You can achieve this by creating a group.add file under jffs > configs, with the content mlocate:x:666: . This way, whenever you reboot your router, user mlocate will be added to the group file and you won't need to add again manually.

Image for reference:

View attachment 33345

But now I get erros logged due to the 'changed group file':
crond[4365]: / etc / group: bad record (needed to put spaces in the path due error from forum software)

Removing the group.add and just changing the permissions on the database folder: chmod +rw /opt/var/mlocate - did not help...
Any other solution?

 

[ColinTaylor]

But now I get erros logged due to the 'changed group file':
crond[4365]: / etc / group: bad record (needed to put spaces in the path due error from forum software)

Removing the group.add and just changing the permissions on the database folder: chmod +rw /opt/var/mlocate - did not help...
Any other solution?

Are you invoking mlocate via cron? If so, does mlocate work from the command line?

 

[underdose]

But now I get erros logged due to the 'changed group file':
crond[4365]: / etc / group: bad record (needed to put spaces in the path due error from forum software)

Removing the group.add and just changing the permissions on the database folder: chmod +rw /opt/var/mlocate - did not help...
Any other solution?

Try replacing the "x" with an "*".

mlocate:*:99:

 

[joegreat]

Are you invoking mlocate via cron? If so, does mlocate work from the command line?

Try replacing the "x" with an "*".

mlocate:*:99:

@ColinTaylor : I get the error message every 2 minutes - yes, this looks like a cron job, but not initiated by me - maybe a kind of watchdog for the group file...

@underdose : Well as it's looking that the "watchdog" is complaining about group file modification, this might not be a solution... but I will check this later.

Update:
Yes, the star (*) made the difference: Using same format als the other entries in the group list works fine!