In summary. Two or more files within the same filesystem with the same inode number are "hard linked".
Scrutinizer has pointed to the link count for an ordinary file in "ls -l". Value 2 or more shows hard links.
"radolouv" has the right idea by using "find -xdev" because inode numbers are only unique within a filesystem. However to find all files hard linked to a given filename the find must be from the mountpoint.
One way of testing whether a file is a "hard link" and then listing all the files with the same inode. This script contains code to find out the mountpoint containing a file under HP-UX. Will need changing for other O/S which don't have this layout of "bdf".
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)
Is it possible to Hard link a directory? Some people on google say it is possible and some say it is not possible. I haven't seen a working solution though. (3 Replies)
How can I create a hard link to a file, then rename the hard link to a different name? (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: fhill2
2 Replies
LEARN ABOUT ULTRIX
ln
ln(1) General Commands Manual ln(1)Name
ln - link to a file
Syntax
ln [ -f ] [ -i ] [ -s ] name1 [name2]
ln [ -f ] [ -i ] [ -s ] name ... directory
Description
A link is a directory entry referring to a file. A file, together with its size and all its protection information may have several links
to it. There are two kinds of links: hard links and symbolic links.
By default makes hard links. A hard link to a file is indistinguishable from the original directory entry. Any changes to a file are
effective independent of the name used to reference the file. Hard links may not span file systems and may not refer to directories.
Given one or two arguments, creates a link to an existing file name1. If name2 is given, the link has that name. The name2 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 is
made to the last component of name1.
Given more than two arguments, makes links to all the named files in the named directory. The links made have the same name as the files
being linked to.
Options-f Forces existing destination pathnames to be removed before linking without prompting for confirmation.
-i Write a prompt to standard output requesting information for each link that would overwrite an existing file. If the response from
standard input is affirmative, and if permissions allow, the link is done. The -i option has this effect even if the standard input is
not a terminal.
-s Creates a symbolic link.
A symbolic link contains the name of the file to which it is linked. The referenced file is used when an operation is performed on
the link. A on a symbolic link returns the linked-to file. An must be done to obtain information about the link. The call may be
used to read the contents of a symbolic link. Symbolic links may span file systems and may refer to directories.
See Alsocp(1), mv(1), rm(1), link(2), readlink(2), stat(2), symlink(2)ln(1)