Re: [tlug] Permissions are like Rubik's cubes [SOLVED]

[Tod McQuillin <devin@example.com>]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2008, Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:

> Tod McQuillin writes:
>
> > Actually, it lives in the file's inode.  The directory contains just
> > filenames and pointers to inodes.
>
> OK.  So what is your preferred name for the collection of facts that
> includes both the directory and the information in inodes (plus
> extended attributes which may or may not be kept in inodes, etc, etc)?

"Metadata" is the first word that comes to mind for me, but I guess I can 
sort of see why you might not like it.

Unix filesystem semantics can be confusing sometimes, for example when you 
have allocated inodes with allocated storage space associated with them 
but no directory anywhere pointing to them (i.e. files which have been 
unlinked but which are still in use).

Things like this are common enough that it's worth keeping the 
distinctions clear.  I have lots of questions along these lines on my list 
of interview questions for Unix sysadmins.

For example, given the case above where a file has been unlinked, do you 
know how to find out with 100% certainty which process is holding a 
reference to the largest unlinked file?
--
Tod McQuillin