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UNIX rm -rf error "rm: cannot remove `filename' : Device or resource busy"

 
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# 1  
Old 05-23-2011
UNIX rm -rf error "rm: cannot remove `filename' : Device or resource busy"
Hi Everyone,

I am trying to remove a directory:

Code:
$ rm -rf directory_name/
rm: cannot remove `directory_name/filename': Device or resource busy

What does this mean, and why can't I remove these files? I already tried moving into the directory, and removing the files individually, but I get the same error:

Code:
$ rm -rf filename
rm: cannot remove `filename': Device or resource busy

The file I am trying to remove is only visible via ls -la, and begins with a "."

Thanks,
Anna
# 2  
Old 05-23-2011
Make sure you are not is the directory you are trying to delete
Code:
 pwd

If your file is named so, don't forget the leading dot
Code:
rm -rf .filename

?
# 3  
Old 05-23-2011
Thanks for the quick reply.

I am definitely not in the directory that I am trying to delete.
# 4  
Old 05-23-2011
Post the results of "uname -a" so we know what OS you're using.
# 5  
Old 05-23-2011
Unfortunately my problem is not as easy as a missing "."

when I try to delete the directory:
Code:
[zdepski@overseer 70nt_68kmer]$ rm -rf velvet/
rm: cannot remove `velvet/.nfs0000000106400b63000000c1': Device or resource busy
rm: cannot remove `velvet/.nfs00000001064d051f000000c2': Device or resource busy

when I try to delete the offending files (from within the directory):
Code:
[zdepski@overseer velvet]$ rm -rf .nfs00000001064*
rm: cannot remove `.nfs0000000106400b63000000c1': Device or resource busy
rm: cannot remove `.nfs00000001064d051f000000c2': Device or resource busy

---------- Post updated at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous update was at 01:15 PM ----------

Code:
[zdepski@overseer 70nt_68kmer]$ uname -a
Linux overseer 2.6.31.6-2.caos #1 SMP Tue Nov 17 11:46:26 PST 2009 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Thanks.
# 6  
Old 05-23-2011
Hi,

NFS cannot remove a file that is used.

Try using lsof to find who use it.

---------- Post updated at 07:25 PM ---------- Previous update was at 07:23 PM ----------

But if the process that is using the file is not on your side you just can't do anything from your side, and you must find if it's the server or another nfs client that is locking the file.
# 7  
Old 05-23-2011
You're in a directory that is NFS mounted to your system. That's different then dealing with a local disk. Some process has that file opened. That process will need to close the file or exit.

on mu linux system..
Code:
$ echo fubar > fubar
$ ls -a
.  ..  fubar  one  two
$ df -k .
Filesystem           1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
vamain:/vol/vol1     17408962080 13603234592 3805727488  79% /nas01
$ sleep 1000 < fubar &
[1]     7887
$ ls -a
.  ..  fubar  one  two
$ rm fubar
$ ls -a
.  ..  .nfs00000000010005470000001f  one  two
$
$ cat .nfs00000000010005470000001f
fubar
$ kill %1
[1] + Terminated               sleep 1000 < fubar &
$
$ ls -a
.  ..  one  two
$

See? The file disappeared when the process exited.
 
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