SERVICES_MKDB(8)

💅 SERVICES_MKDB(8) — the services database generator, bestie ✨

okay so real talk, this is the services_mkdb(8) page from the System Manager's Manual and honestly? it's a little bop. it makes your services database. that's the whole vibe. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

services_mkdb [-b | -l] [-q] [-o database] [file]
services_mkdb -u [file]

like, two whole modes. pick your fighter 💅

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

okay so the services_mkdb utility creates a db(3) database for the file you point at. no file specified? it just goes with /etc/services by default, no big deal. then it installs that database into /var/db/services.db. iconic behavior honestly.

the file must be in the correct format (peep services(5) for that, iykyk).

the options are as follows, and yes i'm listing every single one because we don't skip 💖

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🦋 OPTIONS 🦋

• -b — use big-endian byte order for the database metadata. big energy.
• -l — use little-endian byte order for the database metadata. smol energy.
• -o database — put the output databases in the file you name. you pick the destination, main character move fr.
• -q — do not warn about duplicate services. silence is golden, no notes 🙈
• -u — print the services file to stdout, omitting duplicate entries and comments. just the good stuff, filtered and clean ✨

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the databases are used by the C library services routines — check getservent(3) if you wanna see how that goes down 🫶

heads up bestie: the -b and -l flags are mutually exclusive. you literally cannot have both, pick one. and the default byte ordering is the current host order, no cap.

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🎀 FILES 🎀

• /var/db/services.db — the current services database. the moment. the place. 👑
• /var/db/services.db.tmp — a temporary file. it's just passing through.
• /etc/services — the current services file. the source material.

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⭐ EXIT STATUS ⭐

the services_mkdb utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs. simple as. slay. 🌈

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💜 SEE ALSO 💜

db(3), getservent(3), services(5)

go read them, they're cute too.

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🍓 BUGS 🍓

so here's the tea 😭 — because services_mkdb guarantees not to install a partial destination file, it must build a temporary file in the same file system and if successful use rename(2) to install over the destination file. like, it has to do the whole dance. no shortcuts.

and if services_mkdb fails? it will leave the previous version of the destination file intact. so your old file stays safe. we love a graceful failure 💅✨

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k that's the whole page, hope it ate. love u, go generate some databases 💖

source/version vibes: this is the Debian build, dated April 4, 2010 — yeah it's a vintage icon, wear it with pride 🎀