What creates /var/preserve?

[Daniel M. Gonzales]

I know what /var/preserve is used for, I'm not sure what creates it. We have a LOT of 11.00 and 11.11 servers that have the directory. Yet we have a number of servers that don't.

[Ken Penland_1]

I think this is a directory created by vi to preserve files that are being vi'd so that they can be recovered later if the system crashes or whatever while in vi.

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

Why, the mkdir command and ultimately the underlying mkdir() system call, of course.

I don't think that's the question you quite meant. Normally, /var/preserve is created during the OS install. I suspect that it is being subsequently manually removed on some of your boxes so that those pesky users won't have all those vi recovery files.

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,
The preserve directory is created in the installation process (at least the directory exist on a fresh installed server). I belive it belongs to one of the installation packets, if it not exist on some of your servers, it may be a difference what is installed (check with swlist).

[Daniel M. Gonzales]

Thanks guys, that's what I suspected. Clay, I gave you an extra point for the humor. :o)