LN(1) UNIX Reference Manual LN(1) NNAAMMEE llnn - make links SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS llnn [--ss] _s_o_u_r_c_e__f_i_l_e [target_file] llnn [--ss] _s_o_u_r_c_e__f_i_l_e ... [target_dir] DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN The llnn utility creates a new directory entry (linked file) which inherits the same modes as the orginal file. It is useful for maintaining multi- ple copies of a file in many places at once - without the `copies'; in- stead, 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. Option available: --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 refer to directories (unless the proper incantations are supplied) 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 readlink(2) call may be used to read the contents of a symbolic link. Symbolic 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 speci- fied, 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 rm(1), cp(1), mv(1), link(2), readlink(2), stat(2), symlink(2) HHIISSTTOORRYY A llnn command appeared in Version 6 AT&T Unix.