Disable file indexing in disposable qubes revisions

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Revision #3

Edited on
2023-11-02
Edited by user
Bearillo

Revision #2

Edited on
2023-10-23
Edited by user
Bearillo
File indexing (e.g. via tracker3 on Debian) uses quite a few resources and is pretty useless in a dvm qube, such as sys-usb, as it will have to start over every time the qube is started and it may block certain operations, e.g. for me it often blocks veracrypt volume dismounts (volume is on external storage and mounted in sys-usb; when trying to dismount it, it fails saying that the volume is busy). Therefore it may be useful to just turn that off: In your dvm-template (e.g. debian-12-dvm; I only tested for Debian 12, not others) start a terminal and run the following commands: File indexing (e.g. via tracker3 on Debian) uses quite a few resources and is pretty useless in a DVM qube, such as sys-usb, or other disposables that storage devices are attached to, as the tracker will have to start over every time the qube is started and it's activity may block certain operations, e.g. dismounting veracrypt volumes. Therefore it may be useful to just turn file indexing off for those qubes: In your DVM-template (e.g. debian-12-dvm, fedora-38-dvm etc.; I tested this for Debian 12 and Fedora-38) start a terminal and run the following commands:
and then shut down the dvm-template. Be sure that you did this in the dvm-template, e.g. debian-12-dvm, and not in the base template, e.g. debian-12! The next time a dvm-based qube, e.g. sys-usb starts, it won't have tracker3 running. Important caveat: tracker3 does more than just file indexing, e.g. helps with search and rename, but so far for me normal search, including in nautilus still works, but just be aware that there may be side effects.and then shut down the DVM-template. Be sure that you did this in the DVM-template, e.g. debian-12-dvm, and not in the base template, e.g. debian-12! The next time a DVM-based qube, e.g. sys-usb starts, it won't have tracker3 running (you can verify this by running `tracker3 status` inside a disposable qube after shutting down the DVM-template). Note that from QubesOS 4.2 onward file-indexing will be disabled by default in all serviceVMs, such as sys-usb and sys-firewall, but not in "normal" disposable qubes. Important caveat: tracker3 does more than just file indexing, e.g. it helps with search and rename, but so far for me normal search, including in nautilus still works, so I guess it just impedes faster search for lots of data, which is not a typical use case for a DVM qube, since that qube would realistically have to run for a long time in order for this to have productivity enhancing effects.