MicroNugget: How to Manage the 'Locate' Database

In this video, Shawn Powers covers how to manage the locate database function in Linux. This is alternately referred to as the “updatedb,” for “update database,” and “mlocate,” which is the actual program that’s running on the server. This allows you to search for files within the Linux file system rapidly.

The advantage of using the locate database function in Linux is being able to find virtually anything you need within the Linux file system quickly.

This is somewhat similar to the spotlight feature in OS 10 or the Windows search feature that Microsoft offers.

Shawn opens up an Ubuntu system and walks you through each step of locating the file you want.

Almost every distribution has the locate database installed by default, so this is a function you can use consistently regardless of the individual distribution you’re using. Although this isn’t something you’ll do very often, it’s an invaluable tool for when you need it.

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[dhavalanjaria]

Holy shit I thought locate was some sort of symlink to find!