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Problem starting Dropbox client on Linux
I'm having some difficulty getting a new Dropbox client operating on a Linux machine. (I'm using Gentoo Linux, using current net-misc/dropbox and dropbox-cli versions.) Nothing I've done has resulted in the creation of the ~/Dropbox directory, there is no evidence that syncing is actually occurring, and a separate login to Dropbox.com shows no connection from the new device. I start with
dropbox-cli start -i
which automatically creates the ~/.dropbox and ~/.dropbox-dist directories, but not ~/Dropbox. It does start up a browser, allowing me to login directly from the target machine, and when I've finished it declares that "Your device is now connected to Dropbox", or something similar. However, nothing shows up under connected devices, and there is little if any evidence of sync-ing activity (which might be difficult without a ~/Dropbox directory in place). (Creating the directory manually appears not to help, either.)
I acknowledge that I've not given the maximum amount of detail here, but what I've described is essentially everything I've attempted. I'm puzzled why multiple statements to the effect that the device is now connected (I tried the above several times) still do not reflect an actual connected device, or sync-ing activity. I guess it's possible that a sync is underway, but is proceeding at an absolutely glacial pace; there is a directory /tmp/Temp-xxxxxx created, which however has no content. (The network connectivity is very fast FWIW.) Any troubleshooting pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Gotcha, ericrhenry.
As far as we're aware, there's a short time-frame that the setup needs to be completed in. If it's exceeded, it might explain what you described.
If I understood correctly and if possible, please have someone perform the set up on the target machine directly to see if that makes any difference whatsoever.
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hey ericrhenry, thanks for posting here!
As a first step, have you made sure that your device meets the necessary requirements in order to download, and install the app there?Also, if you check next to your WiFi icon, do you see a little Dropbox icon there? If so, can you hover your mouse over this icon, and let me know the version of the app that you're using, along with the app's status?
Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!
Linux is Gentoo, not one of the "standard" ones, but there is a Dropbox packaged for it. Dropbox version is 209.4.3661, which is the current production release for that distribution. System requirements are all satisfied (glibc version, etc.), which is confirmed by the fact that the server I just decommissioned, which was my Dropbox handler, is maintained at the same OS level as the one I am trying to install as the new handler.
I tend to run headless, because my target installation is remote. In fact, I am doing the install on a server which is actually 1000 miles away, so I don't have ready access to a full desktop to look for Dropbox icons. When I go the CLI route, and run
dropbox-cli status
I get
Waiting to be linked to a Dropbox account...
To link this computer to a Dropbox account, visit the following url:
https://www.dropbox.com/cli_link_nonce?nonce=bfac6951494874af5bc8383a8a2690ff
I have performed this operation several times already (through a browser running on the remote target machine, but using my current local DISPLAY machine--very slow), but it never seems to "take". That seems to be the crux of my problem... (BTW, no evidence of syncing activity in the several hours since my original post.)Thanks,
Eric
- Megan
Gotcha, ericrhenry.
As far as we're aware, there's a short time-frame that the setup needs to be completed in. If it's exceeded, it might explain what you described.
If I understood correctly and if possible, please have someone perform the set up on the target machine directly to see if that makes any difference whatsoever.
That was helpful, thanks. Not practical to have somebody else perform the setup, but by having the remote browser already fired up, and immediately copying/pasting the URL, I was apparently able to get in under the wire. (FWIW, I find those time-bomb links a bit awkward, at least with such close tolerances.)
Bottom line is that my new device is now listed, and syncing has apparently completed. Thanks again...
- Megan
Any time ericrhenry! 😃
If you need anything else, I'll be one post away!
