Failed to start Zeitgeist activity log service on Ubuntu 17.04

[corrado venturini]

I just installed Ubuntu 17.04 from last daily Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Alpha amd64 (20170222)
corrado@corrado-z4:~$ uname -a
Linux corrado-z4 4.10.0-9-generic #11-Ubuntu SMP Mon Feb 20 13:47:35 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
corrado@corrado-z4:~$
corrado@corrado-z4:~$ inxi -Fx
System: Host: corrado-z4 Kernel: 4.10.0-9-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 6.3.0)
           Desktop: Gnome (Gtk 3.22.7-1ubuntu4) Distro: Ubuntu Zesty Zapus (development branch)
Machine: Device: desktop Mobo: Gigabyte model: H87M-D3H v: x.x UEFI: American Megatrends v: F3 date: 04/24/2013
CPU: Dual core Intel Core i3-4130 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 13567
           clock speeds: max: 3400 MHz 1: 806 MHz 2: 803 MHz 3: 873 MHz 4: 814 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 4th Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1680x1050@59.88hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card-1 Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-9-generic
Network: Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: e000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: 94:de:80:7e:90:a7
Drives: HDD Total Size: 1000.2GB (1.3% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST1000DM003 size: 1000.2GB temp: 33C
Partition: ID-1: / size: 32G used: 4.9G (17%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 8.59GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 212 Uptime: 23 min Memory: 1008.6/7861.2MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 6.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.51) inxi: 2.3.8
corrado@corrado-z4:~$

and zeitgeist does not start:

Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2048]: Activating via systemd: service name='org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine' unit='zeitgeist.service'
Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 systemd[2015]: Starting Zeitgeist activity log service...
Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 zeitgeist-vacuu[2842]: zeitgeist-vacuum.vala:38: Impossible to open database `/home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist/activity.sqlite': unable to open database file
Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 systemd[2015]: zeitgeist.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=14
Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 systemd[2015]: Failed to start Zeitgeist activity log service.
Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 systemd[2015]: zeitgeist.service: Unit entered failed state.
Feb 23 10:19:35 corrado-z4 systemd[2015]: zeitgeist.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Feb 23 10:19:43 corrado-z4 gnome-software-service.desktop[2612]: 09:19:43:0074 Gs failed to call gs_plugin_add_updates_historical on fwupd: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.freedesktop.fwupd: Timeout was reached
Feb 23 10:20:00 corrado-z4 zeitgeist-datah[2834]: log.vala:103: Unable to connect to Zeitgeist: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine: Timeout was reached
Feb 23 10:20:01 corrado-z4 systemd[1]: Starting Stop ureadahead data collection...
Feb 23 10:20:01 corrado-z4 systemd[1]: Started Stop ureadahead data collection.
Feb 23 10:20:25 corrado-z4 zeitgeist-datah[2834]: Unable to connect to Zeitgeist's DataSourceRegistry: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine: Timeout was reached
Feb 23 10:20:25 corrado-z4 zeitgeist-datah[2834]: zeitgeist-datahub.vala:103: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine: Timeout was reached
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: g_action_print_detailed_name: assertion 'g_action_name_is_valid (action_name)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: gtk_application_set_accels_for_action: assertion 'detailed_action_name != NULL' failed
Feb 23 10:20:43 corrado-z4 gnome-system-lo[2901]: Allocating size to GtkScrolledWindow 0x22f8470 without calling gtk_widget_get_preferred_width/height(). How does the code know the size to allocate?
Feb 23 10:20:47 corrado-z4 unity-panel-ser[2588]: window_menu_model_new: assertion 'BAMF_IS_APPLICATION(app)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:47 corrado-z4 unity-panel-ser[2588]: track_menus: assertion 'IS_WINDOW_MENU(menus)' failed
Feb 23 10:20:55 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2048]: Activating service name='org.gnome.GConf'
Feb 23 10:20:55 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2048]: Successfully activated service 'org.gnome.GConf'
Feb 23 10:20:57 corrado-z4 unity-panel-ser[2588]: Already have a menu for window ID 46137369 with path /com/canonical/menu/2C00019 from :1.90, unregistering that one
Feb 23 10:21:00 corrado-z4 systemd-resolved[1304]: Switching to DNS server 62.101.93.101 for interface enp2s0.
Feb 23 10:21:03 corrado-z4 systemd-resolved[1304]: Switching to DNS server 83.103.25.250 for interface enp2s0.
Feb 23 10:21:13 corrado-z4 compiz[2569]: ERROR 2017-02-23 10:21:13 unity <unknown>:0 log.vala:103: Unable to connect to Zeitgeist: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine: Timeout was reached
Feb 23 10:21:35 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2048]: Failed to activate service 'org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine': timed out
Feb 23 10:29:53 corrado-z4 dbus[1021]: [system] Activating via systemd: service name='org.freedesktop.hostname1' unit='dbus-org.freedesktop.hostname1.service'
Feb 23 10:29:53 corrado-z4 systemd[1]: Starting Hostname Service...

corrado@corrado-z4:~$ apt-cache policy zeitgeist*
zeitgeist-datahub:
  Installed: 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1
  Candidate: 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
zeitgeist-core:
  Installed: 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1
  Candidate: 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
zeitgeist-explorer:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 0.2-1.1
  Version table:
     0.2-1.1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/universe amd64 Packages
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/universe i386 Packages
zeitgeist:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1
  Version table:
     0.9.16-0.2ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/universe amd64 Packages
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/universe i386 Packages
zeitgeist-extension-fts:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:
corrado@corrado-z4:~$

I still have the problem with my last install from the last daily Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Alpha amd64 (20170224)
so i think it's time to open a bug.

I attach some doc, let my know if You need more
thanks

[corrado venturini (corradoventu)]

/home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist is empty.
copy /home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist from a different installation
seems solving the problem

Ubuntu installed from: Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Alpha amd64 (20170222)

corrado@corrado-z4:~$ uname -a
Linux corrado-z4 4.10.0-9-generic #11-Ubuntu SMP Mon Feb 20 13:47:35 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
corrado@corrado-z4:~$

zeitgeist does not start. /home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist is empty.

Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2481]: Activating via systemd: service name='org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine' unit='zeitgeist.service'
Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 systemd[2432]: Starting Zeitgeist activity log service...
Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 zeitgeist-vacuu[3236]: zeitgeist-vacuum.vala:38: Impossible to open database `/home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist/activity.sqlite': unable to open database file
Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 systemd[2432]: zeitgeist.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=14
Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 systemd[2432]: Failed to start Zeitgeist activity log service.
Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 systemd[2432]: zeitgeist.service: Unit entered failed state.
Feb 24 07:17:22 corrado-z4 systemd[2432]: zeitgeist.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Feb 24 07:17:25 corrado-z4 pulseaudio[2906]: [pulseaudio] bluez5-util.c: GetManagedObjects() failed: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out
Feb 24 07:17:30 corrado-z4 gnome-software-service.desktop[3040]: 06:17:30:0981 Gs failed to call gs_plugin_add_updates_historical on fwupd: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.freedesktop.fwupd: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.freedesktop.fwupd': timed out
Feb 24 07:17:47 corrado-z4 zeitgeist-datah[3228]: log.vala:103: Unable to connect to Zeitgeist: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine: Timeout was reached

copied /home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist from another Ubuntu installed from the old daily: Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Alpha amd64 (20161106)
where zeitgeist start fine and /home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist is not empty.
now it contains:
corrado@corrado-z4:~$ ls ~/.local/share/zeitgeist -l
total 4316
-rw------- 1 corrado corrado 339968 feb 26 08:22 activity.sqlite
-rw------- 1 corrado corrado 32768 feb 26 09:03 activity.sqlite-shm
-rw------- 1 corrado corrado 4041752 feb 26 09:03 activity.sqlite-wal
drwxr-xr-x 2 corrado corrado 4096 feb 26 09:03 fts.index
corrado@corrado-z4:~$

zeitgeist start ok!

Feb 26 08:38:59 corrado-z4 dbus[918]: [system] Activating via systemd: service name='org.freedesktop.fwupd' unit='fwupd.service'
Feb 26 08:39:13 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2305]: Activating via systemd: service name='org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine' unit='zeitgeist.service'
Feb 26 08:39:13 corrado-z4 systemd[2265]: Starting Zeitgeist activity log service...
Feb 26 08:39:13 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2305]: Activating via systemd: service name='org.gnome.zeitgeist.SimpleIndexer' unit='zeitgeist-fts.service'
Feb 26 08:39:13 corrado-z4 dbus-daemon[2305]: Successfully activated service 'org.gnome.zeitgeist.Engine'
Feb 26 08:39:13 corrado-z4 systemd[2265]: S...

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[corrado venturini (corradoventu)]

/home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist is empty.
copy /home/corrado/.local/share/zeitgeist from a different installation (Zesty on same PC)
seems solving the problem

Tested also on a different hardware.

[Mark A. Hershberger (hexmode)]

Instead of copying a .local/share/zeitgeist directory from somewhere, you can just run "zeitgeist-datahub" from the command line. That created the .sqlite files for me, at least.