cannot remove contents of the /tmp folder

bergman · 02-16-2009, 09:43 AM

Hello,

Im trying to delete the contents of my /tmp folder, so from within /tmp I issue this command:

Code:

rm -r *

but it gives me the error message:

Quote:

rm: invalid option -- _

Ive tried the above command as root also.

The permissions on the /tmp folder are 'drwxrwxrwt', Im wondering what the 't' is ?

Is there a special command to delete the contents of the /tmp folder?

eco · 02-16-2009, 10:01 AM

You can try the following but you should be careful as it will probably delete files that are in use:

Code:

# rm -rf -- *

The '--' mans there are no more parameters.

Use at your own risk.

bach-fiend · 02-16-2009, 03:59 PM

This is legal in unix, I'm pretty sure. a "rm" command will succeed but the file will stick around UNTIL IT IS NO LONGER OPEN. THEN it will be really removed.

raj k yadav · 02-17-2009, 07:12 AM

't' is denoted for sticky bit. You cannot delete files which are not owned by you if sticky bit is applied on a directory.

chitambira · 02-17-2009, 07:51 AM

You can remove the stiky bit as root:
chmod -t /tmp
if /tmp is owned by root, then he shopuld be able to remove the files anyway

rich_c · 02-17-2009, 09:00 AM

Just do a reboot. That should clear out /tmp. It seems to have done on my system. My last reboot was 8 Feb and there are no files older than that in /tmp.

jdkaye · 02-17-2009, 10:06 AM

Yes, Rich_c is right. Just wait for your next reboot and /tmp gets cleared out automatically. I don't think it's a clever idea to remove everything from /tmp on a running system. Lots of apps put stuff there until they are closed down. Removing these /tmp file would probably bring your system down. You can certainly delete specific files that you know are no longer necessary (I use /tmp as my default download folder and delete installation files all the time). Why do you want to delete everything from /tmp anyway?
cheers,
jdk

bergman · 02-17-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks everyone.

Rebooting didnt remove the files in /tmp (slackware 12.1), but doing:

Code:

# rm -rf -- *

as suggested did remove all the files, and it doesnt seem to have created any problems (at least not yet!)

p.s jdkaye, I just wanted a clearout

Ranguvar · 02-17-2009, 02:40 PM

Don't remove the /tmp sticky bit evar. It's for security

jdkaye · 02-17-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergman

Thanks everyone.

Rebooting didnt remove the files in /tmp (slackware 12.1), but doing:

Code:

# rm -rf -- *

as suggested did remove all the files, and it doesnt seem to have created any problems (at least not yet!)

p.s jdkaye, I just wanted a clearout

bergman,
There are always going to be files in /tmp for the reasons explained above. Are you sure the ones that you save in /tmp when you rebooted arent' fresh ones installed after your latest reboot? You can check the date/time of the files by doing

Code:

ls -l [filename]

cheers,
jdk

bergman · 02-18-2009, 02:17 AM

There are a few hidden files and directories which seem to have been created since the reboot (.xorg.conf, .X0-lock, etc), but alot fewer than there were.

I suppose Im trying to clean up a directory which by its nature is 'untidy'.

rich_c · 02-18-2009, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergman

I suppose Im trying to clean up a directory which by its nature is 'untidy'.

And probably best left ignored, unless it's using an awful lot of space. Mine's got 5.2MB in the 10 days since last reboot.

bernihard · 02-18-2009, 09:17 AM

A useful command for know if some process is using any file inside /tmp folder do the following:

Code:

fuser /tmp

The output will be the PID of the processes using files under /tmp