4.4BSD/usr/share/man/cat1/ln.0

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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