How to Disable/Enable Updatedb.mlocate to Reduce Disk IO

The updatedb.mlocate service is responsible for updating the mlocate database, which can sometimes consume a significant amount of disk I/O. Here, we’ll explain how to disable and enable this service as well as provide a tip for customizing which directories are indexed.

Disable updatedb.mlocate

To disable the updatedb.mlocate service, follow these steps:

1. Kill the Running Process:

   1	sudo killall updatedb.mlocate

   This command will stop any currently running updatedb.mlocate processes.

2. Prevent Automatic Execution:

   Disable the automatic execution of the updatedb.mlocate service by removing its execute permission:

   1	sudo chmod -x /etc/cron.daily/mlocate

   This step ensures that the updatedb.mlocate script won’t run automatically.

3. Delete the Existing Database:

   You can also delete the existing mlocate database to free up disk space:

   1	sudo rm /var/lib/mlocate/mlocate.db

   Deleting the database is optional but can help save disk space.

Enable updatedb.mlocate

If you wish to enable updatedb.mlocate again, follow these steps:

1. Grant Execute Permission:

   Grant execute permission to the mlocate script in the daily cron directory:

   1	sudo chmod +x /etc/cron.daily/mlocate

   This step allows the script to run automatically.

Customize Indexed Directories

Additionally, if you want to customize which directories are indexed by updatedb.mlocate, you can edit the configuration file /etc/updatedb.conf:

1. Open the configuration file in a text editor (e.g., nano or vi):

   1	sudo nano /etc/updatedb.conf

2. Locate the PRUNEPATHS variable. It contains a list of paths that should be excluded from indexing.

3. Add the directories you want to exclude to the PRUNEPATHS variable. For example:

   1	PRUNEPATHS="/tmp /var/spool /media /home/myuser/private"

   Replace the paths in the example with the directories you want to exclude.

4. Save the changes and exit the text editor.

These steps allow you to fine-tune which directories are indexed by updatedb.mlocate, helping you further control disk I/O and the scope of your mlocate database.

Remember to use these commands with caution, as they can impact the functionality of the mlocate service on your system.