LN(1)                   COMMAND REFERENCE                   LN(1)



NAME
     ln - make links

SYNOPSIS
     ln [ -s ] [ -f ] name1 [ name2 ]
     ln [ -s ] [ -f ] name ... directory

DESCRIPTION
     A link is a directory entry referring to a file; the same
     file (together with its size, all its protection
     information, etc.) may have several links to it.  There are
     two kinds of links: hard links and symbolic links.

     By default ln makes hard links.  A hard link to a file is
     indistinguishable from the original directory entry; any
     changes to a file are effective independent of the name used
     to reference the file.  Hard links may not span file systems
     and may not refer to directories.

     The -s option causes ln to create symbolic links.  A
     symbolic link contains the name of the file to which it is
     linked. The referenced file is used when an open(2) or
     creat(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.

     The -f option causes ln to attempt to make hard links to
     directories. This can only be done by the super-user and can
     cause problems (see CAVEATS).

     Given one or two arguments, ln creates a link to an existing
     file name1.  If name2 is given, the link has that name;
     name2 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 name1.

     Given more than two arguments, ln makes links to all the
     named files in the named directory.  The links made will
     have the same name as the files being linked to.

OPTIONS
     -f  Option causes ln to attempt to make hard links to
         directories. This can only be done by the super-user and
         can cause problems (see CAVEATS).

     -s  ln creates a symbolic link.





Printed 10/17/86                                                1

LN(1)                   COMMAND REFERENCE                   LN(1)



EXAMPLES
     The following example causes a hard link called c to be made
     to the file /bin/cat.



          ln /bin/cat c


     This example causes a symbolic link called temp to be made
     to the directory /tmp.



          ln -s /tmp temp


RETURN VALUE
     [NO_ERRS]      Command completed without error.

     [USAGE]        Incorrect command line syntax. Execution
                    terminated.

     [NP_WARN]      An error warranting a warning message
                    occurred. Execution continues.

     [P_WARN]       A system error occurred. Execution continues.
                    See intro(2) for more information on system
                    errors.

CAVEATS
     The force option (-f) should only be used when absolutely
     neccessary.  If a hard link is made to a directory and both
     the directory and link are removed, the system may crash.

SEE ALSO
     rm(1), cp(1), mv(1), link(2), readlink(2), stat(2), open(2),
     creat(2), lstat(2), symlink(2).

















Printed 10/17/86                                                2

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