echo append on certain RHEL 6.4 systems not inserting a newline before the text

bradvan · 10-11-2013, 08:37 AM

Anyone have an idea what system setting could be effecting an echo append operation? I have a script that does a simple

Code:

echo "stuff" >> filename

On most servers, it performs as expected and puts in a newline before adding the text. On some of the servers, the newline is not inserted. This is causing me some problems. I'm just not sure what to look at. All the servers are running RHEL 6.4. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

lleb · 10-11-2013, 08:58 AM

can you copy/paste some examples of what you mean by not putting text in before adding a new line?

bradvan · 10-11-2013, 09:06 AM

Sure. Example, filename contains:

Code:

this is stuff in the file.
It is really nonsense.

Then on the system with a problem, running:

Code:

echo "crap" >> filename

produces a file looking like:

Code:

this is stuff in the file.
It is really nonsense.crap

while running the same command on a "working" system produces a file like:

Code:

this is stuff in the file.
It is really nonsense.
crap

On the non-working system, the text is appended at the end of the file without inserting a newline first. On what I would call a working system, a newline is inserted first followed by the text. I get the same results whether running on as a non-privileged user and as root.

rknichols · 10-11-2013, 10:57 AM

The echo command never inserts a newline first unless that happens to be part of the string you are echoing. Typically, the last character in a text file is a newline. If that is missing, you will get the results you are seeing.

lleb · 10-11-2013, 01:33 PM

and rknichols beat me to it. tis why i was asking.