How to launch SQLPage in a particular folder on Linux Mint at the booting ?

[ThierryM]

Hi,
I want to launch automatically SQLPage which is on that folder /home/user/folder1 on Linux Mint 21.3.
So I use this command in Startup Applications:
/home/user/folder1/sqlpage.bin
But the default folder where SQLPage works is /home/user/sqlpage (this sqlpage folder is created at the boot time) and I have the classical page showing that SQLPage is working.
So how can I obtain the same behavior when I launch manually '/home/user/folder1/sqlpage.bin that works fine ?
Thanks for your help, regards.

[lovasoa]

Hi,

The problem with using "Startup Applications" in Gnome for launching applications like SQLPage is that it doesn't provide the same level of control as a dedicated system service. "Startup Applications" is more suitable for graphical applications or user-level processes, but for a service like SQLPage, it's better to define a systemd service. This ensures that the application launches with the correct environment and configurations.

Here’s a guide on how to set up SQLPage to launch automatically using systemd:

Steps to Create a Systemd Service for SQLPage

1. Create a systemd service file:

   You'll need to create a service file in /etc/systemd/system/. This file will define how and when SQLPage runs.

   Open a terminal and create the service file:

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/sqlpage.service

2. Define the service file:

   Inside the file, add the following content: https://github.com/lovasoa/SQLpage/blob/main/sqlpage.service

Important parameters:

• ExecStart: This is the command that runs SQLPage. It points to the binary you mentioned (I recommend placing it in /usr/local/bin/sqlpage.bin).
• WorkingDirectory: This sets the working directory. By default, if WEB_ROOT is not set, sqlpage serves files from this directory.
• Restart=always: Ensures the service restarts if it crashes.
• User and Group: These specify which user will run the service. Replace with your actual username.
• Environment: Sets the environment variables.

3. Reload systemd:

   After creating the service file, you need to reload the systemd manager configuration so it recognizes the new service:

   sudo systemctl daemon-reload

4. Enable the service to start at boot:

   Enable the service so it starts automatically during boot:

   sudo systemctl enable sqlpage.service

5. Start the service:

   Start the service immediately to test if it works correctly:

   sudo systemctl start sqlpage.service

6. Check the service status:

   You can check if the service is running properly with:

   sudo systemctl status sqlpage.service

This method ensures SQLPage starts at boot and works in the specified directory. It provides more control over the execution, handling of environment variables, and the ability to restart the service if it fails.

If you want to stop the service at any time:

sudo systemctl stop sqlpage.service

This is a cleaner and more reliable approach than using "Startup Applications" for services like SQLPage that need to run in a specific context.

[lovasoa]

Once you have it running, to check the logs for your SQLPage systemd service, you can use the journalctl command.

1. Check recent logs for the SQLPage service:

sudo journalctl -u sqlpage.service

This will show logs related to your SQLPage service in chronological order, starting from the oldest entry.

[ThierryM]

Thanks a lot Ophir for theses detailled explanations and the time you took to answer me !
I'll try as soon as possible.
Regards

[ThierryM]

Hi,
I've tested your method and it works perfectly. So I've rewrited in french here : https://lofurol.fr/joomla/logiciels-libres/104-bases-de-donnees/356-sqlpage-commandes-utiles-astuces
Thanks a lot again !
Regards