LN(1) BSD Reference Manual LN(1) NNAAMMEE llnn - make links SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS llnn [--ffss] _s_o_u_r_c_e___f_i_l_e [target_file] llnn [--ffss] _s_o_u_r_c_e___f_i_l_e _._._. [target_dir] DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN The llnn utility creates a new directory entry (linked file) which has the same modes as the orginal file. It is useful for maintaining multiple copies of a file in many places at once without using up storage for the ``copies''; instead, a link ``points'' to the original copy. There are two types of links; hard links and symbolic links. How a link ``points'' to a file is one of the differences between a hard or symbolic link. The options are as follows: --ff Unlink any already existing file, permitting the link to occur. --ss Create a symbolic link. By default llnn makes _h_a_r_d links. A hard link to a file is indistinguish- able from the original directory entry; any changes to a file are effec- tive independent of the name used to reference the file. Hard links may not normally refer to directories and may not span file systems. A symbolic link contains the name of the file to which it is linked. The referenced file is used when an open(2) operation is performed on the link. A stat(2) on a symbolic link will return the linked-to file; an lstat(2) must be done to obtain information about the link. The read- link(2) call may be used to read the contents of a symbolic link. Sym- bolic links may span file systems and may refer to directories. Given one or two arguments, llnn creates a link to an existing file _s_o_u_r_c_e___f_i_l_e. If _t_a_r_g_e_t___f_i_l_e is given, the link has that name; _t_a_r_g_e_t___f_i_l_e may also be a directory in which to place the link; otherwise it is placed in the current directory. If only the directory is specified, the link will be made to the last component of _s_o_u_r_c_e___f_i_l_e. Given more than two arguments, llnn makes links in _t_a_r_g_e_t___d_i_r to all the named source files. The links made will have the same name as the files being linked to. SSEEEE AALLSSOO link(2), lstat(2), readlink(2), stat(2), symlink(2), symlink(7) HHIISSTTOORRYY A llnn command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX. 4th Berkeley Distribution May 31, 1993 1