Inappropriate ioctl for device while reading flags

w1k0 · 06-01-2009, 06:33 PM

I can't use lsattr and chattr commands in my system. I used both many years ago. Now both these commands display error messages. I tried them with different files. The result is always the same:

Code:

# lsattr /etc/lilo.conf
lsattr: Inappropriate ioctl for device While reading flags on /etc/lilo.conf

# chattr +i /etc/lilo.conf
chattr: Inappropriate ioctl for device while reading flags on /etc/lilo.conf

# chattr -i /etc/lilo.conf
chattr: Inappropriate ioctl for device while reading flags on /etc/lilo.conf

I use Slackware 12.2.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

piete · 06-01-2009, 07:31 PM

First I've heard of these commands, good to learn about new things!

From the man page: lsattr - list file attributes on a Linux second extended file system

Are you using ext2 or ext3 at that location? Any files I try that are located on a ReiserFS partition give me that error there, while ext2 and ext3 files seemed to return just fine.

w1k0 · 06-01-2009, 07:41 PM

Well... It's good to read man pages from time to time. During last ten years I changed file system for a few times. I used lsattr and chattr long time ago. In the meantime I switched file system to ReiserFS. Thank you very much.

w1k0 · 06-01-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piete

good to learn about new things!

So maybe you'll be interested in my old script I used to made the system more secure:

# cat immutable

Code:

#!/bin/sh

# lists or changes selected files attributes
# requires ext2 or ext3 file systems

for file in inetd.conf services passwd shadow group gshadow lilo.conf
do
    if [ "$1" == "" ]    ; then lsattr    /etc/$file ; fi
    if [ "$1" == "on" ]  ; then chattr +i /etc/$file ; fi
    if [ "$1" == "off" ] ; then chattr -i /etc/$file ; fi
done