if you change the content for both the original file or the hardlink, the content is changed in the original file (thus changed in the hardlink). if you change the content in a copied file, the original file doesn't change its content. just the file you decided to edit.
both files have same content
edit hardlink.file and all content changes
change to copied file doesn't show same with original file but hardlink and orig file show same content.
Last edited by pupp; 12-01-2009 at 12:18 PM..
Reason: added code
Hi all!
I'd like to know the differences between hard links and soft links. I've already read the ln manpage, but i'm not quite sure of what i understood.
Does a hard link sort of copy the file to a new name, give it the same inode number and same rights?
What exactly should I do to do this:... (3 Replies)
Someone asked me a question today about the difference between a hard link and a soft link. That got me thinking and maybe someone can answer.
Why would I ever use a hard link if I can use a soft link instead? (2 Replies)
hello folks
how y'all doin
well i have some questions about symbolic link and hard link
hope some one answer me
i open terminal and join as root
and i wrote ln -s blah blah
then i wrote ls
i see red file called blah blah
but didn't understand what is this can some one explain and... (2 Replies)
Hello,
In unix, the normal user can't create a hardlink for a directory. why..?
Is there any difference between creating a hard link for a file and directory?
The super user can create a hard link for directories.
Why we cannot create and super user can create.?
Please, can anyone help... (1 Reply)
Hi
PLease let me know the usage of Hard Link vs Soft Link
i.e what is the basic difference and what happens when one file is changed or deleted in both the cases???
thanks (3 Replies)
Hi Experts,
Please help me out to find out difference between a hard link and a soft link.
I am new in unix plz help me with some example commands ( for creating such links).
Regards
S.Kamakshi :) (2 Replies)
Hello,
Please move this if I chose the wrong forum category. This question pertains to Unix and Linux I believe. I google the difference between hard and symbolic/soft links and I understand the difference. What I am trying to find is a real example of a hard link being used in a Operating... (11 Replies)
Hi,
Can anyone explain me the usage of mcopy command and also the difference between copy and mcopy. As per my understanding through both we can copy multiple files or DOS files . Any help on this will be really helpful. (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: rogerben
3 Replies
LEARN ABOUT OSX
link
LN(1) BSD General Commands Manual LN(1)NAME
link, ln -- make links
SYNOPSIS
ln [-Ffhinsv] source_file [target_file]
ln [-Ffhinsv] source_file ... target_dir
link source_file target_file
DESCRIPTION
The ln utility creates a new directory entry (linked file) which has the same modes as the original file. It is useful for maintaining mul-
tiple copies of a file in many places at once without using up storage for the ``copies''; instead, a link ``points'' to the original copy.
There are two types of links; hard links and symbolic links. How a link ``points'' to a file is one of the differences between a hard and
symbolic link.
The options are as follows:
-F If the target file already exists and is a directory, then remove it so that the link may occur. The -F option should be used with
either -f or -i options. If none is specified, -f is implied. The -F option is a no-op unless -s option is specified.
-h If the target_file or target_dir is a symbolic link, do not follow it. This is most useful with the -f option, to replace a symlink
which may point to a directory.
-f If the target file already exists, then unlink it so that the link may occur. (The -f option overrides any previous -i options.)
-i Cause ln to write a prompt to standard error if the target file exists. If the response from the standard input begins with the char-
acter 'y' or 'Y', then unlink the target file so that the link may occur. Otherwise, do not attempt the link. (The -i option over-
rides any previous -f options.)
-n Same as -h, for compatibility with other ln implementations.
-s Create a symbolic link.
-v Cause ln to be verbose, showing files as they are processed.
By default, ln makes hard links. A hard link to a file is indistinguishable from the original directory entry; any changes to a file are
effectively independent of the name used to reference the file. Hard links may not normally refer to directories and may not span file sys-
tems.
A symbolic link contains the name of the file to which it is linked. The referenced file is used when an open(2) operation is performed on
the link. A stat(2) on a symbolic link will return the linked-to file; an lstat(2) must be done to obtain information about the link. The
readlink(2) call may be used to read the contents of a symbolic link. Symbolic links may span file systems and may refer to directories.
Given one or two arguments, ln creates a link to an existing file source_file. If target_file is given, the link has that name; target_file
may also be a directory in which to place the link; otherwise it is placed in the current directory. If only the directory is specified, the
link will be made to the last component of source_file.
Given more than two arguments, ln makes links in target_dir to all the named source files. The links made will have the same name as the
files being linked to.
When the utility is called as link, exactly two arguments must be supplied, neither of which may specify a directory. No options may be sup-
plied in this simple mode of operation, which performs a link(2) operation using the two passed arguments.
COMPATIBILITY
The -h, -i, -n and -v options are non-standard and their use in scripts is not recommended. They are provided solely for compatibility with
other ln implementations.
The -F option is FreeBSD extention and should not be used in portable scripts.
SEE ALSO link(2), lstat(2), readlink(2), stat(2), symlink(2), symlink(7)STANDARDS
The ln utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (``POSIX.2'').
The simplified link command conforms to Version 2 of the Single UNIX Specification (``SUSv2'').
HISTORY
An ln command appeared in Version 1 AT&T UNIX.
BSD February 14, 2006 BSD