Finding the Link, the Hard Link

[David Walker]

Will H. Backman wrote:
> David Walker wrote:
>> OK, sorry for the sappy subject but oh well.
>>
>> So I am having a question and problem.  What I am doing is writing a 
>> script to parse over 2 loop file systems, and check for changes.  
>> Simple, no?  Well I thought so until I ran into the HardLink.  This 
>> would be able to be ignored and just put 2 copies of the file in the 
>> loop filesystem, however we are pressed for space and every 4k 
>> matters.  So I ask, is there a way to tell the difference between the 
>> real file, and a hard link?
>>
>> eg.
>> /etc/passwd and /etc/passwd.hl
>>
>> The .hl was made with ln, now how can I tell that it is, or was made 
>> with ln, a hard link?
>>
>> -- 
>> Dave
>>
>
> As far as I know, every regular file is a hard link.  Creating a new 
> hard link to the inode doesn't increase the size on disk.
>
Right.  But for what I need this to do, is such:

There is a file /etc/passwd.  I make a hard link, /etc/passwd.hl.
Now, I am going to check the filesystem: and I see /etc/passwd, and note 
that it has not changed.  Then I check /etc/passwd.hl and note that it 
is another (made by ln) link.

I don't think what I am trying to do is possible but I was wondering if 
I am missing something.

--
dave