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Syncing is stuck on my Linux devices, what can I do?
It seems I have the same problem as mentioned in above posts. I am running Dropbox on a pc and laptop, both having Linux-Lubuntu as the os. After a "one time update" on both systems, Dropbox is stuck...
Hi holf,
At the beginning you can try fix possible permission errors:
sudo chown -R "$USER" "$HOME/Dropbox" sudo chattr -R -i "$HOME/Dropbox" chmod -R u+rw ~/Dropbox
Also, existing symbolic links could be found using:
ls -alR ~/Dropbox | grep " -> "
If no any change, check the needs for watchable entries:
i=0; IFS=$'\n'; for a in `ls -R1 ~/Dropbox`; do ((++i)); done; echo $i
The above will give you some estimation. The current upper border could be received using:
sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_watches
If the estimation above don't fit in last result, try extend the border using something like:
sudo sysctl -w fs.inotify.max_user_watches=100000
Tune the value according your needs (with some reserve, of course).
If nothing helps yet, try to find out the exact files making troubles (which will give you chance investigate further), using something like:
(IFS=$'\n';for i in `ls -R1 ~/Dropbox`; do if [[ "$i" =~ ":" ]]; then cd `echo "$i" | sed "y/:/\//"`; echo -n "In folder: "; pwd; dropbox filestatus; fi; done) | grep -vi "up to date" | grep -vi ".dropbox:" | grep -vi ".dropbox.cache:"
Last command assume you have installed properly 'dropbox' command, either using debian package or by hand. Otherwise "command not found" will be signaled. Will be enumerated all folders in Dropbox and signaled problematic files inside, if any. Be patient, could take some time, depending on your content size. Once found out problematic entries, you can use different techniques for investigate, like see current file's classic attributes (the simplest one):
ls -l ~/Dropbox/Troublesome/file.ext
Good luck. :wink:
The following instructions word for me:
sudo chown -R "$USER" "$HOME/Dropbox" chmod -R u+rw ~/Dropbox
Hey fellow Dropboxers!
I've been a happy customer for as long as I can remember. Lately though, I've struck troubles with Linux getting stuck syncing. Here's what I've done so far. If anyone could please lend a hand, it would be much appreciated.
Ubuntu 18.04:
- Approx 19 files "Syncing" but no indication of speed or time.
- Rebooted
- Changed permissions recursively using the post from "Hello" earlier in the thread.
- Changed the file watch count (I had ~220,000 files in Dropbox and changed the watch file setting to 300.000)
- Checked for symbolic links, there are none
- Removed Dropbox using the offical instructions
- Contacted help desk to install the latest version and followed their instructions.
- Tried everything at this post
- Deleted entire Dropbox program and Dropbox files (to stat from scratch).
- Installed dropbox using install instructions on website and built from source. This took 2 days to arrive back at "Downloading 219 files"
- Double checked all items at this post
- Deleted dropbox
- Deleted all Dropbox files (yes all 200,000 of them again)
- Deleted operating system
- Installed a fresh Ubuntu 18.04
- Installed Dropbox
- Changed file watch value to 400,000
- Started first dropbox sync
- Waited two days to arrive at "Downloading 83 files"
- Followed all instructions at this post again
- Looked for every type of illegal character according to here
- Changed those illegal characters that I could through the web interface. Changed the rest of these bad characters from my computer (and the Dropbox website reflected the changes)
- Reduced long filenames as much as possible, but from a script I ran, my longest was 165 characters (inc path and filename)
- Removed all the files that MacOS made with `._` at the front (11,000ish).
- Attempted to use `dropbox filestatus` but it shows some directories as `syncing` but the files inside that directory are `up-to-date`.
- Attempted to search for illegal characters through the Dropbox search feature as the Dropbox support line suggested however I get "no results" for every combination I can think of.
- I don't have Windows or Mac computer with enough storage to attempt a new sync with that.
- I've tried starting Dropbox with `sudo` also and no change.
Can anyone please provide some guidance as to what to do next? I'm over a week into sussing this out and I've run out of ideas.
Hi Jaidan B.,
You did really hard troubleshooting work! That's truly strange. 🤔 After OS from scratch install and application install from scratch too (including without data),... nothing should be able stop the initial syncing at lest.
The only part of your troubleshooting you can pay a little more attention is:
Jaidan B. wrote:...
Attempted to use `dropbox filestatus` but it shows some directories as `syncing` but the files inside that directory are `up-to-date`.
...
Here 'syncing' directories means something inside has not completed yet or hasn't started at all! All files in that directory 'up to date' means existing files are ok, but may be others aren't there yet. Did you check content matching of one such directory locally (on the disk) and remotely (on the cloud; using web browser)? 🧐 Is there some difference?
Once you know such details, you would be able direct your attention further in correct direction. What is the result of just stop and start the daemon anew? In sequence run "dropbox stop; dropbox start". Does the sync process make some steps further?
Good luck!
Thanks Здравко for your prompt response.
There are 5 folders which say "syncing" but all files inside are "up-to-date". I did a file count and found there are files missing. One folder, it is all photos taken on 1st Sep 2008 which appear on the web but do not appear on my computer. However, when I download one and try to save it to the dropbox location on my computer, it is labelled as a sync conflict. I have used `ls -lah` to show me hidden files and the missing ones do not appear. I can open them OK in the web browser.
I have not checked the other folders yet as I need to sleep (it is late here). I will look into this further in the morning.
Restarting the daemon in the manner you described has not made a difference. It usually takes some time to "index" then stalls again at 83 files.
I'll report back either way as these diagnostics may help others.
Regards,
J
Thanks Здравко for your prompt response.
There are 4 folders which say "syncing" but all files inside are "up-to-date". I did a file count and found there are files missing. These filesappear in the web browser but not locally. However, when I download one and try to save it to the dropbox location on my computer, it is labelled as a sync conflict. I have used `ls -lah` to show me hidden files and the missing ones do not appear.
I have tried copying these files in the web browser to another location. Then my "Downloading X file" increases by 1 but the file does not appear on my PC. I've also tried renaming which makes no difference either.
Restarting the daemon in the manner you described has not made a difference. It usually takes some time to "index" then stalls again at 83 files.
What information can I look at for the files which will not sync?
Regards,
J
The forum is marking my posts as spam 😞 and is deleting them. I still require help. Can an admin person please remove the spam mark?
another obscure thing that could fail syncing: avoid symbolic links, hard links, bind mounted folders,.... in the Dropbox path
Thanks DokterChaos for the information. I have checked for symbolic links, hard links and bind mounts and haven't found any. This is something I was aware of from a few years ago and have tried to avoid them in Dropbox.
