:)If I copy the new 400.vps file over the exisisting /var/lib/avast4/400.vps file will this truly update the virus definition files?
A million thanks John
As far I know, it works for Linux off-line update.
The copying itself is, in general, not enough - the definitions must be also loaded (running engines must be told that reloading should be performed). That’s what that avastvpsreload utility does (technically speaking, ‘N’ semaphore over 400.vps is removed). Other way how to load them is to quit all avast apps that are running under particular user, and re-starting them. Also, one might issue avworkClose(0) (synchronous invocation, used internally).
otherwise, there’s a shared runtime block with definition (which is kept in memory until there’s no client that’s attached to it), and this is used preferably instead of the contents from 400.vps file. that’s why pure copying isn’t usually enough.
pc