chattr
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NAME
chattr - change file attributes on a Linux second extended
file system
SYNOPSIS
chattr [ -RV ] [ -v version ] [ mode ] files...
DESCRIPTION
chattr changes the files attributes on an second extended
file system.
The format of a symbolic mode is +-=[Sacdisu].
The operator `+' causes the selected attributes to be
added to the existing attributes of the files; `-' causes
them to be removed; and `=' causes them to be the only
attributes that the files have.
The letters `Sacdisu' select the new attributes for the
files: synchronous updates (S), append only (a), com-
pressed (c), immutable (i), no dump (d), secure deletion
(s), and undeletable (u).
OPTIONS
-R Recursively change attributes of directories and
their contents.
-V Verbosely describe changed attributes.
-v version
Set the files version.
ATTRIBUTES
A file with the `a' attribute set can only be open in
append mode for writing.
A file with the `c' attribute set is automatically com-
pressed on the disk by the kernel. A read from this file
returns uncompressed data. A write to this file compresses
data before storing them on the disk.
A file with the `d' attribute set is not candidate for
backup when the dump(8) program is run.
A file with the `i' attribute cannot be modified: it can-
not be deleted or renamed, no link can be created to this
file and no data can be written to the file. Only the
superuser can set or clear this attribute.
When a file with the `s' attribute set is deleted, its
blocks are zeroed and written back to the disk.
When a file with the `S' attribute set is modified, the
changes are written synchronously on the disk; this is
equivalent to the `sync' mount option applied to a subset
of the files.
When a file with the `u' attribute set is deleted, its
contents is saved. This allows the user to ask for its
undeletion.
AUTHOR
chattr has been written by Remy Card <card@masi.ibp.fr>,
the developer and maintainer of the ext2 fs.
BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
As of ext2 fs 0.5a, the `c' and `u' attribute are not hon-
oured by the kernel code.
These attributes will be implemented in a future ext2 fs
version.
AVAILABILITY
chattr is available for anonymous ftp from ftp.ibp.fr and
tsx-11.mit.edu in /pub/linux/packages/ext2fs.
SEE ALSO
lsattr(1)
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Copyright (C) 1998
Hurricane Electric.
All Rights Reserved.