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dict:terms:hardlink [2009/02/24 06:25] 127.0.0.1 external edit |
dict:terms:hardlink [2010/12/21 18:50] (current) fgrose |
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* filename | * filename | ||
- | A hardlink associates a //filename// with a [[dict:terms:file | file]]. That name is an entry in a directory listing. Of course a file can have more hardlinks to it (usually the number of hardlinks to a file is limited), but all hardlinks to a file must reside on the same [[dict:terms:filesystem | filesystem]] than the file itself! | + | A hardlink associates a //filename// with a [[dict:terms:file | file]]. That name is an entry in a directory listing. Of course a file can have more hardlinks to it (usually the number of hardlinks to a file is limited), but all hardlinks to a file must reside on the same [[dict:terms:filesystem | filesystem]] as the file itself! |
What you usually call a file is just a name for that file, and thus, a hardlink. | What you usually call a file is just a name for that file, and thus, a hardlink. | ||
- | The difference between a sym link and a hard link is that there is no easy way to differ between a 'real' file and a hard link, let's take a look at the example: | + | The difference between a [[dict:terms:symlink | symbolic link]] and a hard link is that there is no easy way to differentiate between a 'real' file and a hard link, let's take a look at the example: |
* create an empty file | * create an empty file | ||
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$ ln -s a c</code> | $ ln -s a c</code> | ||
- | as you can see file(1) can't differ between a real file 'a' and a hard link 'b', but it can tell 'c' is a sym link | + | as you can see file(1) can't differentiate between a real file 'a' and a hard link 'b', but it can tell 'c' is a sym link |
<code>$ file * | <code>$ file * | ||
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- | hard links don't consume additional space on the hard drive, the space is freed when the last hard link pointing to it is deleted. | + | hard links don't consume additional space on the filesystem, the space is freed when the last hard link pointing to it is deleted. |
===== See also ===== | ===== See also ===== |