a question about /tmp

ludwig W · 04-25-2003, 08:05 AM

Hi,
Is it ok to delete everything in the /tmp directory?
My guess is it's like the windows temp folder where you can just delete it's contents.

cheers,
Ludwig

MasterC · 04-25-2003, 08:20 AM

Not always...

If you are running X you don't wanna delete your lock files; also KDE puts some files in there if you are running it that you don't want to delete unless you stop running it (just for that session). If you are about to reboot, I do believe you can, but I'd be weary of doing it. If you are looking for some space saving use:
du -h
And find the biggest "byte thief" and remove it/them.

Cool

trickykid · 04-25-2003, 08:23 AM

You should just place a command to clean out and remove everything in /tmp in your startup scripts. Or you can usually log out of X and then remove everything safely.

ludwig W · 04-25-2003, 09:08 AM

ok,so if I log out of X, then it's ok to remove the contents of /tmp and delete it...is that right?

webtoe · 04-25-2003, 09:12 AM

I'd be wary of doing while you're logged in at all. You can have a script, either at boot or shutdown, to clear it out but there is really not much point in doing it any other time. Many of the files there are important to running programs (even ones that aren't X programs). However, a running program that has created a lock file should clear it out once its finished. If it doesn't then its a "stale lock" and is usually safe to delete at shutdown or startup.

Why do you want to clear it out anyway?

Alex

trickykid · 04-25-2003, 09:19 AM

Basically you should be ok to remove any contents in /tmp while logged out of X and not running many programs in the background. I personally have done this numerous times but yet my system could differ from yours so don't hold me reliable if something goes wrong.

The safest bet is to setup a script to remove while shutting down or booting up to clear it out like I mentioned the first time.

ludwig W · 04-25-2003, 09:57 AM

Quote:

The safest bet is to setup a script to remove while shutting down or booting up to clear it out like I mentioned the first time.

Hi m8

could you give me some idea on how I might do that?
cheers,
Ludwig

webtoe · 04-25-2003, 10:09 AM

Code:

rm -rf /tmp/*

That in one of your startup scripts should do the job but be very careful with it. And if its in the startup scripts then make sure that its one of the first things to be run before any progs attempt to make use of /tmp

Alex

ludwig W · 04-25-2003, 10:15 AM

hi m8

I'm running RH8, so could I put it in /etc/re.local ?

Also, what does the "-rf"" do and what does the * do?

sorry to be so uninformed,
Ludwig

trickykid · 04-25-2003, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ludwig W
hi m8

I'm running RH8, so could I put it in /etc/re.local ?

Also, what does the "-rf"" do and what does the * do?

rm -rf /tmp/*

rm = command remove
r = recursive
f = forces so no prompts to assure you want to delete

/tmp/* is the directory your removing files from, which basically indicating with the * to remove all files, its a wildcard.

trickykid · 04-25-2003, 10:22 AM

Oh and about the rc.local, I wouldn't place that there, that is usually loaded last or towards the end. You'd want to place the command in one of the other startup scripts that run earlier. I'm not familiar with Redhat's startup scripts now but like on my Slack box I would place it somewhere in my rc.M script in which I use to boot into runlevel 3, multiuser mode.

webtoe · 04-25-2003, 10:24 AM

I'm afraid I don't use Red Hat (and neither does TrickyKid last time I was here) but the rc.local is probably not the best one to choose since its the last one to be run. You'd have to check the documentation for red hat (they have a book online which I found by searching www.google.co.uk/linux for init scripts red hat ).

That should get you sorted

Alex

{*dammit someone always posts before me saying exactly what I was going to say

*}

trickykid · 04-25-2003, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by webtoe
{*dammit someone always posts before me saying exactly what I was going to say *}

I have 4 arms and 20 fingers..

I'm a freak that is bored at work as well..

webtoe · 04-25-2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

I'm a freak that is bored at work as well.

Yes you told me that all those years ago when we started at this forum and I asked you whether you actually ever did any work (since you always answered posts before I got near them ).

Alex

ludwig W · 04-25-2003, 11:44 AM

Thanks very much for your help and advice ,guys

Ludwig