How do I find a specific file on my VPS?

[vpsnewb]

Hi there. How do I find a specific file on my VPS? Like, if the file was called, "example.txt" and I am not sure what directory it is saved in, what would be the easiest way to find this?

 

[Aldryic C'boas]

Assuming you want the simplest solution - for a Debian-based OS, simply run the following:


apt-get install locate && updatedb
locate example.txt

The above to be run as root, of course (or via sudo).  updatedb isn't autonomous - it'll run whenever called manually, or the VM is rebooted.  So if you add a bunch of files, and want them included in the search, you'd need to run updatedb again before running locate filename.

 

[rds100]

find / -name example.txt

 

[acd]

@[member='Aldryic C'bo

 

[Aldryic C'boas]

@Aldryic C'bo

 

[Ishaq]

I agree, locate is easy. I prefer find though.

 

[acd]

find /var/www/ -iname 'bfj*ascii*phallus' -mtime +40 -exec bash -c 'mailx [email protected] -s "A present for you!" < "{}" ' \;

 

[Aldryic C'boas]

find /var/www/ -iname 'bfj*ascii*phallus' -mtime +40 -exec bash -c 'mailx [email protected] -s "A present for you!" < "{}" ' \;

I could not hit that Thanks button hard enough 

 

[Adwait_Leap]

I have always used find command as it gives me an expected result eventhough it is slow compared to locate.