How to compare directories (inc. attributes)?

jdupre · 07-06-2005, 12:17 PM

Is there a linux command to compare directories, including attributes like ownership, permissions, and links? The 'diff -r' command appears to only compare filename and contents, while following links and ignoring comparison of file dates, permissions and ownership.

Thanks,

- J

Dommy · 07-06-2005, 11:36 PM

Simple, ls -LR <dir1> > dir1list
ls -LR <dir2> > dir2list
then diff dir1list dir2list | more

I think there is a GUI based diff program but I could be wrong

camlinux · 07-07-2005, 12:39 AM

Couldn't you use pipes instead of creating files? More of a curiosity on my part than anything.

Dommy · 07-07-2005, 01:16 AM

There are 2 seperate pipe streams involved which would then have to be supplied to diff , while you could have one diff go out STDOUT and the other STDERR , I don't believe diff could input from two pipes at once. You could try it and prove me wrong