[Bug 1411633] [NEW] man-db's manipulation of index.db mtime timestamp interferes with incremental backups

[Oliver O.]

Public bug reported:

It appears that since version 2.7.0, man-db manipulates the mtime
timestamp of /var/cache/man/de/index.db in a way that the content may
change, while the timestamp is reset to its previous value (see
attachment).

See https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/foundations-
bugs/2014-September/209326.html

This interferes with incremental backups which pick up files via their
modification timestamps. Such backups will miss updated files which do
not have their mtime timestamps changed accordingly. Automated
comparisons between such backups and (btrfs snapshots of) their source
data will fail. The integrity of such backups cannot be guaranteed.

Release: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: man-db 2.7.0.2-2

** Affects: man-db (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Attachment added: "index.db changes without updating mtime"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1411633/+attachment/4299930/+files/index-db-changes.txt

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1411633

Title:
  man-db's manipulation of index.db mtime timestamp interferes with
  incremental backups

Status in man-db package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  It appears that since version 2.7.0, man-db manipulates the mtime
  timestamp of /var/cache/man/de/index.db in a way that the content may
  change, while the timestamp is reset to its previous value (see
  attachment).

  See https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/foundations-
  bugs/2014-September/209326.html

  This interferes with incremental backups which pick up files via their
  modification timestamps. Such backups will miss updated files which do
  not have their mtime timestamps changed accordingly. Automated
  comparisons between such backups and (btrfs snapshots of) their source
  data will fail. The integrity of such backups cannot be guaranteed.

  Release: Ubuntu 14.10
  Package: man-db 2.7.0.2-2

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