If you delete the original name, then the hard link still points to the same file. Because of this, the file you link to must actually exist and be in the same filesystem where you are trying to create the link. hard link name all hard links are equally valid names for the file. As such, hard links are no different than the first name of a file. You can easily identify a symbolic link and see the name of the file it points to.Ī hard link points to the file by inode number. If you replace the named file (change its contents without affecting its name), then the link still contains the same name, and so now it points to the new file. Because it just contains a name, that name does not actually have to exist, or may exist on a different filesystem. It has a special mode bit that identifies it as a symbolic link, and its contents are the name of the real file. A symbolic link points to another file by name. On the other hand, a soft link can point to directories or files (+1 point) and there is no partition limitation (+1 point), but if the source is deleted, the link will not work (-1 point).īoth are pointers to files the difference is the kind of pointer. Question: It would be nice if someone could provide a setting where a hard link might be preferable over a symbolic link.Īnswer: Depending on the disk partition layout, hard links have the limitation that they must be on same partition (-1 point) and can only link to files (-1 point), but if the original is deleted, the link will work and it acts like the original (+1 point). If I delete the original file, the link will still work, and it will act as the original.Ībove, I check that the link is working, and then delete the original firefox script. ls -i # Shows you the inodeĪs you can see, it has the same inode. Let's say I have a script in the /script directory named firefox. (Keep it mind you need to define the full path of both source and destination otherwise it will not work.) (-Source-) ( Destination )Īs you can see it has a different inode and can be made on a different partition.Īnswer: A Hard link can be made with ln first you need to define the source and then you need to define the destination. (Keep in mind you need to define the full paths of both source and destination otherwise it will not work.) sudo ln -s /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/mesa/libGL.so.1 /usr/lib32/libGL.so.1 If the real copy is deleted, the link will work, because it accesses the underlying data which the real copy was accessing.Īnswer: A soft link can be made with ln -s first you need to define the source and then you need to define the destination. Hard links are for files only you cannot link to a file on a different partition with a different inode number. If the real copy is deleted, the link will not work. You can make links to files and directories, and you can create links (shortcuts) on different partitions and with a different inode number than the original. Links are of two types: soft links (symbolic links) or hard links. In Linux/Unix, Shortcuts are known as Links Source: blatantly copying it from StackOverflow! Similarly, If blah1 is deleted, blah1-hard still holds the contents if blah2 is deleted, blah2-soft is just a link to a non-existing file. The contents of the file could not be found because the soft link points to the name, that was changed, and not to the contents. $ mv blah2 blah2-newĬat: blah2-soft: No such file or directory Let's create hard and soft links: $ ln blah1 blah1-hardĬhanging the name of blah1 does not matter: $ mv blah1 blah1-newīlah1-hard points to the inode, the contents, of the file - that wasn't changed. And, "An example is worth a hundred paragraphs."Įnter some data into them: $ echo "Cat" > blah1
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |