The Dropbox syncing service launched an replace in late 2018 for Linux that dropped assist for all file-systems on Linux except for Ext4. For the common consumer, this most likely isn’t an enormous deal. Linux customers on common don’t use lesser-known, file-systems (BtrFS, XFS). Moreover, the Ubuntu installer, together with Fedora, Debian, and different main Linux working techniques use Ex4 by default. Nonetheless, even when it’s true that a majority of Linux customers don’t hassle switching to lesser-known, file techniques and stick to Ext4, it’s irritating that the Dropbox service is dictating to Linux customers what file-system they’ve to use so as to use the desktop syncing shopper.
For those who don’t use Prolonged 4 as your default Linux file system however require Dropbox, this new replace is an actual bummer. Luckily, it’s attainable to patch Dropbox for Linux filesystems that don’t run Ext4. Right here’s how to get it accomplished.
WARNING: This repair isn’t endorsed by Dropbox. Be certain that your synced information is backed up to a second location, corresponding to an exterior USB or HDD earlier than trying this repair. We will’t affirm that the filesystem patch will work 100% of the time! Try at your personal threat!
Set up Dropbox fixer app
The Dropbox fixer software, often known as “Dropbox Filesystem Fix” is up on GitHub. To use it in your Linux PC the code wants to be compiled and constructed from supply. To do that, you need to set up a number of dependencies.
Open up a terminal window by urgent Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. From there, comply with the set up directions that correspond with the Linux working system you’re utilizing.
Ubuntu
sudo apt set up build-essential git
Debian
sudo apt-get set up build-essential git
Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S git base-devel
Fedora
sudo dnf set up set up make automake gcc gcc-c++ kernel-devel git
OpenSUSE
sudo zypper set up -t sample devel_basis
sudo zypper set up git
After putting in the dependencies for the app, you possibly can use the git clone command-line argument to clone the newest launch of the Dropbox fixer code.
git clone
After cloning the Dropbox fixer code to your Linux PC, transfer the terminal session into the brand new folder, by making use of the CD command.
cd dropbox-filesystem-fix
Contained in the code folder, be at liberty to check out the Readme.md file. It outlines what this system’s capabilities are, numerous options, set up data, and many others. In any other case, execute the make command to compile the code from supply.
make
The compiler will take a couple of minutes to compile the patch rapidly. The ensuing output of the construct is libdropbox_fs_fix.so.
With the code compiled, it’s time to transfer the ~/dropbox-filesystem-fix folder into the /choose listing. To do that, make use of the mv command.
sudo mv ~/dropbox-filesystem-fix/ /choose/
Subsequent, delete a few of the information within the folder that aren’t vital with the rm command.
sudo rm /choose/dropbox-filesystem-fix/detect-ext.c sudo rm /choose/dropbox-filesystem-fix/libdropbox_fs_fix.c sudo rm /choose/dropbox-filesystem-fix/Makefile
Replace the permissions of the dropbox_start.py script utilizing chmod.
sudo chmod +x /choose/dropbox-filesystem-fix/dropbox_start.py
Arrange Dropbox to use the Dropbox repair script
The Dropbox fixer script wants to be set because the default launch command for the sync shopper, or the patch gained’t work. To do that, we should first erase the shortcut settings within the default Dropbox app launch file.
WARNING! Shut the Dropbox sync shopper in your system and cease it from working earlier than working any of the instructions beneath.
Utilizing the echo command, set Dropbox.desktop to clean.
sudo echo ' ' > /usr/share/purposes/dropbox.desktop
Subsequent, delete the prevailing Dropbox startup entry out of your system, because it comprises the identical code we want to change.
rm ~/.config/autostart/dropbox.desktop
Open up the clean Dropbox.desktop file within the Nano textual content editor.
sudo nano -w /usr/share/purposes/dropbox.desktop
Paste the code beneath into the Dropbox.desktop file.
[Desktop Entry]
Identify=Dropbox
GenericName=File Synchronizer
Remark=Sync your information throughout computer systems and to the net
Exec=/choose/dropbox-filesystem-fix/dropbox_start.py
Terminal=false
Sort=Software
Icon=dropbox
Classes=Community;FileTransfer;
StartupNotify=false
Save the code with Ctrl + O in Nano. After that, exit Nano with Ctrl + X. Then, make a brand new copy of Dropbox.desktop to the ~/.config/autostart folder in your Linux PC.
cp /usr/share/purposes/dropbox.desktop ~/.config/autostart/
Assuming every little thing is completed appropriately, Dropbox ought to now be prepared to sync once more on file-systems corresponding to XFS, BtrFS, and different, unsupported ones.
To begin syncing once more, discover “Dropbox” within the app menu in your Linux PC and double-click on it.
Limitations of the Dropbox Filesystem Repair
The Dropbox firm has no intention of bringing again assist for lesser-known file-systems once more. So, this repair is the very best that the group can do for the time being.
If Dropbox Filesystem Repair stops working for you, it might be finest to re-install your Linux working system with Ext4 or, arrange a devoted Ext4 partition for your Dropbox syncing wants.
