hard link file , conceptual question

[machoq1]

I have a file which has 19 links all having the same inode.
I need to copy a new version of the file over the existing file.

will a cp NewFile OrigFile preserve the inode of OrigFile?

If not then how can i preserve the inode number without cutting and pasting contents of new file over the new file ?

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

If you cp to an existing file, the existing file's inode number will be preserved. One way to deal with this so that inode numbers are not important is to create symbolic links. Npte a that a symbolic link can exist for a file that does not exist at the time of creation.

[Simone Del Pinto]

Hi Sacket,

try th " cp -p" command...

... Ithink that this is good for you! :-)

Regards,

Simone Del Pinto

[Rodney Hills]

All 19 hard links have just one inode. The 17 directory entries all point to the same inode.

A "cp" will keep the same inode for the file.

Rod Hills

[machoq1]

Thanks !

[machoq1]

cp does not modify inode number !