Can't remove symbolic link

Ezplan · 02-16-2012, 09:47 AM

Hi all,
I know this is supposed to be easy, but I'm having a heck of a time:

Code:

[root@bigpuffin proj]# ls -al
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root     root     12 Jun 15  2011 ZZ_Albatross_Archive -> /projArchive
drwxrwxrwx  29 tplancon users  4096 Feb  8 17:46 ZZ_Proj_Misc
drwxr-xr-x  10 tplancon users  4096 Dec 14  2010 ZZZ_Proj_Dir_24x36Template
drwxr-xr-x  10 tplancon users  4096 Jul  9  2010 ZZZ_Proj_Dir_30x42Template

[root@bigpuffin proj]# rm -f ZZ_Albatross_Archive/
rm: cannot remove `ZZ_Albatross_Archive/': Not a directory
[root@bigpuffin proj]# rm ZZ_Albatross_Archive/
rm: cannot remove directory `ZZ_Albatross_Archive/': Is a directory
[root@bigpuffin proj]# rm -R ZZ_Albatross_Archive/
rm: descend into directory `ZZ_Albatross_Archive/'? y
rm: descend into directory `ZZ_Albatross_Archive//Retail_Lulu_2'? 
"Cancel"
[root@bigpuffin proj]# rm -fR ZZ_Albatross_Archive/
rm: cannot remove `ZZ_Albatross_Archive/': Not a directory
[root@bigpuffin proj]#

Is it a directory or is it not? And what difference does it make!?!
Any suggestions as to why I can't remove this link are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

sag47 · 02-16-2012, 09:52 AM

Because a link isn't a directory it's a file, even if it links to a directory it is still just a link. You need to remove the trailing slash.

Code:

rm ZZ_Albatross_Archive

Ezplan · 02-16-2012, 10:00 AM

Thanks sag47!
That is interesting! I was typing in that line using the auto-complete TAB function. Auto-complete automatically places a "/" at the end of the line. I didn't even notice it. Sabotage by auto-complete!
You ARE a wizard!