Build and Test AIDE Database

Description

Run the following command to generate a new database:

$ sudo /usr/sbin/aide --init

By default, the database will be written to the file /var/lib/aide/aide.db.new.gz. Storing the database, the configuration file /etc/aide.conf, and the binary /usr/sbin/aide (or hashes of these files), in a secure location (such as on read-only media) provides additional assurance about their integrity. The newly-generated database can be installed as follows:

$ sudo cp /var/lib/aide/aide.db.new.gz /var/lib/aide/aide.db.gz

To initiate a manual check, run the following command:

$ sudo /usr/sbin/aide --check

If this check produces any unexpected output, investigate.

Rationale

For AIDE to be effective, an initial database of "known-good" information about files must be captured and it should be able to be verified against the installed files.