[lug] Filesystem attributes (lsattr/chattr): how to deal with files with "I" attrbitute?

[Davide Del Vento]

Speaking of weird unremovable files, on our system (AIX, but I think
the same might happen in linux) an user created a (nameless)
directory, containing a (nameless) hard link to itself. Besides the
difficulties to specify the nameless entry, we cannot remove it,
because it's not empty, neither with "rm -r" because it's an infinite
loop.
Bye
;Dav

On Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 11:26, Michael J. Hammel
<mjhammel at graphics-muse.org> wrote:
> A guy at work has a file on a linux box that has an attribute (from
> lsattr) of "I" (uppercase i).  Lowercase i is immutable.  Uppercase I
> means, quoting the chattr man page:
>
> The  'I'  attribute  is used by the htree code to indicate that a
> directory is being indexed using hashed trees.  It may not be set or
> reset using chattr(1), although it can be displayed by lsattr(1).
>
> What the heck does that mean?  From his perspective it means the file
> cannot be removed, not even by root.  So how do you get rid of it?  The
> directory is empty.  Will a reboot clear that attribute so the directory
> can be removed?
>
> --
> Michael J. Hammel                                    Principal Software Engineer
> mjhammel at graphics-muse.org                           http://graphics-muse.org
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual
> who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that
> individual is crazy. -- Unknown.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> Mailing List: http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug
> Join us on IRC: lug.boulder.co.us port=6667 channel=#colug
>