The locate command uses a database to check for files and directories that match the string finger . The locate command that works very quickly, as long as the database is up to date. That database is automatically updated on a nightly basis, from cron . Cron is a small program that runs in the background, performing various tasks, such as updating the locate database, at regularly scheduled intervals. More About Cron cron is a daemon that executes tasks at regularly scheduled intervals.
Daemons handle tasks in the background.
To read the cron man page, type man cron at the shell prompt. After a few minutes, the slocate database will be current. Update Automatically with Anacron You can run anacron to have your system execute commands periodically, with a frequency specified in days. Unlike cron , it does not assume that the machine is running continuously. Hence, it can be used on machines that aren't running 24 hours a day, to control daily, weekly, and monthly jobs that are usually controlled by cron.