[Klug-general] Another simple question.

[Enquiries]

On Thursday 20 January 2005 18:47, Peter wrote:
> What's a symbolic link and how do I create one.
>
> I've looked in my books and I know it's easy - when you've done it once.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Kent mailing list
> Kent at mailman.lug.org.uk
> http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/kent

basically its like creating a shortcut to a file in windows.

they create a reference to a file or directory from another location. here is 
an example:

you compile and install proftpd (ftp server) and it puts its configuration 
file in /usr/local/etc/proftpd.conf. you might think its easier to have all 
your configuration files in /etc so you can fix this without recompiling 
proftpd by using the following command 

ln -s /usr/local/etc/proftpd.conf /etc/proftpd.conf

(specify the source first)
(the -s switch is to make the link symbolic)

this will create a reference to the original config file from the /etc 
directory.

So if you now view the file from /etc my using

more /etc/proftpd.conf

you are actually viewing /usr/local/etc/proftpd.conf

Note:
if you delete the target of a symbolic link then the link will still exist 
in /etc/ but will be broken (appear in a different colour when using "ls").

The same goes if you delete the symbolic link the actual file will not be 
effected.

if you copy a file onto a symlink it will overwrite the target file not the 
symlink.



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