Ubuntu
boinc package

Why are BOINC's files stored in /var/lib

Asked by Rkimber

Having BOINC files in /var/lib is a real disadvantage. Firstly, some user files are owned by root and can only be accessed with sudo. Secondly, they are lost when there's a re-install and reformat.

Can the user files (i.e. the files that relate those projects the user has chosen to belong to, and the files the user has edited to control how the projects run) not be kept in the $HOME directory? There should be an option for that, at least, when BOINC is installed.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

You could try moving then then creating a symbolic link.

Just because the files are not in $HOME doesn't mean you can't add them to your backup scope. When you reinstall or format you will restore the data just as you would your normal user data....

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

Do the conf files for the application specify the paths used? You could change them (look in /etc) then move the data.

Also check it's script to start and stop the service. This may have configuration files too.

Its far far easier to add the folder to your backups and leave where they are. Could be fun to learn how to move the data (if at all possible)

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Rkimber (rkimber) said : 		#3

As far as I can tell it's not possible to make changes via config files. I've changed the boinc directory in both init.d/boinc-client and in /etc/default/boinc-client and restarted boinc but it is still using /var/lib. The files in /etc/boinc-client don't seem to have options for setting the working directory.

Using a symbolic link wouldn't survive a re-install/reformat. And I've always found unattended backups of files owned by root (i.e in scripts run by cron) a bit of a nightmare.

I just find the design decision to use /var/lib for user files somewhat baffling.

Can you help with this problem?

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