Very confusing rm

Luc · 11-03-2002, 10:01 AM

ive tried to remove (unlink) a directory unter suse 7.2:

> rm mysql_install_db
> rm: `mysql_install_db' is a directory

> rm --help
[...]
> Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).
>
> -d, --directory unlink directory, even if non-empty (super-user only)

>rm -d mysql_install_db
> rm: cannot unlink `mysql_install_db': Is a directory

How can I delete this damn directory?

neo77777 · 11-03-2002, 10:04 AM

if the directory isn't empty you can recursively remove the contents
rm -r dirname/
if the directory is empty
rmdir dirname/
will suffice

adam_boz · 11-03-2002, 03:32 PM

If you are trying to unlink something, make sure that you are using the "rm -d" on the linked dir, not the actual one.

Luc · 11-04-2002, 01:42 PM

thx. rm -r dirname/ is working....