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update never completes - always "connecting to update server" I can do manual update but why doesn't auto-update work?

organiccrossroads
organiccrossroads
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I have this same problem with three machines (all linux - different versions of linux & firefox). Yes, I could do a manual update. But, I would like to get the issue with auto-update sorted out. I have a common network setup: private IP (192.168.15.xxx) on a router connected to COMCAST. There is a firewall but no proxy.

I have this same problem with three machines (all linux - different versions of linux & firefox). Yes, I could do a manual update. But, I would like to get the issue with auto-update sorted out. I have a common network setup: private IP (192.168.15.xxx) on a router connected to COMCAST. There is a firewall but no proxy.

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Did you install Firefox as a root user (e.g. in usr/local) or in the Home directory of the user?

I install in usr/local and never had any problems with updating.

You can check if there are files in the updates/0 folder in the Firefox installation folder and remove the '0' folder and files active-update.xml and updates.xml if present.

organiccrossroads
organiccrossroads Question owner
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Thanks cor-el! Your question about how it was installed was spot on. It was installed as root (I always do that for an app like Firefox so that it is available to all users. That is also the default when installing apps with yum or other package managers). The solution is to run firefox as root (kdesu firefox) so that it has access to the installation folder for writing. I selected Help -> about firefox and it updated right away.

The error for the mozilla people is in not detecting and either handling (asking for root privileges) or reporting the problem instead of hanging up in an infinite loop.

Thank you.