rm command usage

big_orange · 11-03-2003, 03:01 PM

I need information on usage of the 'rm' command.

First question: If you issue the command 'rm -rf /' while logged in as root, what are the results? (I know it is a bad thing)

Second question: If you issue the same command, but logged on as a normal user instead of root, what are the results?

The questions are being posed to me and, while I know they are "bad", I would like to be able to answer the questions more specifically.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Big_Orange

david_ross · 11-03-2003, 03:04 PM

Welcome to LQ.

rm -rf /
run as root will erase everything on your system
run as a user will only remove files where the user has write access

For info on using rm:
man rm

big_orange · 11-03-2003, 03:08 PM

Thanks David!

sidey · 11-04-2003, 04:17 AM

but of course all the fun starts when it tries to delete rm itself