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headless ubuntu not syncing
Hi All,
I sucessfully installed dropbox on a headless ubuntu server using the following guide:
https://www.linuxbabe.com/ubuntu/install-dropbox-headless-ubuntu-server
The dropbox file/folders sync correctly when starting dropbox using the dropbox command line utiliy.
The dropbox daemon appears running:
$ systemctl status dropbox
● dropbox.service - Dropbox Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/dropbox.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Wed 2023-01-04 13:24:15 PST; 5s ago
Process: 24630 ExecStop=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 24635 (dropbox)
CGroup: /system.slice/dropbox.service
├─24635 /opt/dropbox/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-163.4.5456/dropbox
└─24671 /home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/dropbox /newerversion
Jan 04 13:24:16 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/opt/dropbox/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-163.4.5456/psutil._psutil_linux.cpython-38-x86_64-lin
Jan 04 13:24:16 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/opt/dropbox/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-163.4.5456/psutil._psutil_posix.cpython-38-x86_64-lin
Jan 04 13:24:17 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/opt/dropbox/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-163.4.5456/tornado.speedups.cpython-38-x86_64-linux-g
Jan 04 13:24:18 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/opt/dropbox/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-163.4.5456/wrapt._wrappers.cpython-38-x86_64-linux-gn
Jan 04 13:24:19 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/cryptography.hazmat.bindings
Jan 04 13:24:19 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/cryptography.hazmat.bindings
Jan 04 13:24:19 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/apex._apex.cpython-38-x86_64
Jan 04 13:24:19 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/psutil._psutil_linux.cpython
Jan 04 13:24:19 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/psutil._psutil_posix.cpython
Jan 04 13:24:20 zeus dropboxd[24635]: dropbox: load fq extension '/home/rajeev/.dropbox-dist/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-164.4.7914/tornado.speedups.cpython-38-
After a reboot the sync does not appear to be running and the command line states Dropbox is not running:
$ dropbox status
Dropbox isn't running!
I require the dropbox to automatically sync after reboot. What am I missing?
The headless ubuntu Dropbox sync is syncing now without any manual intervention).
1) Use this link to install dropbox on ubuntu: https://www.dropbox.com/install-linux
2) Use this link to setup dropbox systemd service unit: https://www.linuxbabe.com/ubuntu/install-dropbox-headless-ubuntu-server
Modify the dropbox.service file to call dropboxd using the install location in step 1 (not location in step 2 guide)
What was not clear to me before is the dropbox systemd daemon is running in superuser mode under the "username" account. To access/control the dropbox daemon from command line, sudo -u username dropbox <options> must be done.
That sums it up. Thanks to the knowledgble members who posted in the thread.
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This is what I was afraid of. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find decent/correct guides. So far I've used two with the later being the *better* of the two. Can you please point me to a dropbox community guide focused on installing drop on a headless server and setting up a dropbox systemd service unit?
In spite Dropbox application works as a service running in user session, Dropbox doesn't support running the application in any system service level (in any way). 🤷 It's strange, but it's so and there is NOT any official distribution or guide for such services. Everybody may use whatever works. Read Dropbox application directions (i.e. the works in particular user context only) and particular service platform documentations (i.e. systemd documentation) for a way to meet Dropbox requirements. There are different possible ways, but I would rely on using control through control script (not directly) - more complicated, but more stable (trace pid by ~/.dropbox/dropbox.pid 😉).
You useful comments help me understand and "connect the dots" sort of say on how the headless Dropbox on Linux works. I have a idea on how to get the Dropbox systemd service unit to run. I'll test it out and post back my results.
The headless ubuntu Dropbox sync is syncing now without any manual intervention).
1) Use this link to install dropbox on ubuntu: https://www.dropbox.com/install-linux
2) Use this link to setup dropbox systemd service unit: https://www.linuxbabe.com/ubuntu/install-dropbox-headless-ubuntu-server
Modify the dropbox.service file to call dropboxd using the install location in step 1 (not location in step 2 guide)
What was not clear to me before is the dropbox systemd daemon is running in superuser mode under the "username" account. To access/control the dropbox daemon from command line, sudo -u username dropbox <options> must be done.
That sums it up. Thanks to the knowledgble members who posted in the thread.
