cannot create regular file ...: text file busy

laode · 06-09-2009, 07:24 AM

Hi,

I compield a new bash into /usr/local/bin and want to copy now to /bin, but get above error-message.

I changed default shell to ksh, reboot, checked for any bash-porcess, but nothing to see with ps -ef | grep bash.

As soon, as I try to copy bash, I get above error-message. Why ?

what is meaning of that message ?

how can I overcome that blocking ?

thanks for any tip, laode

laode · 06-09-2009, 07:36 AM

Hi

Problem solved, I wasn't aware that root was using bash as well, when loged in by 'su -'.

thanks anyway, laode

MicBert · 11-26-2012, 09:56 AM

When a file is opened and locked by a process, any other process is not allowed to write into it, and in particular to completely overwrite it. But anyone (with the necessary rights) can rename it.
Thus the procedure I usually follow in this case is:

rename the old file
copy the new file, with the old name of the existing one
once the file is unlocked, I delete it

Note that after the step 2, the locking process still operates on the renamed file, but any new process will refers to the new one!

Michele

rknichols · 11-26-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicBert

[*]once the file is unlocked, I delete it

No need to wait. You can remove the file right away. The kernel will keep the old file around on disk until no one is using it.

MicBert · 11-27-2012, 01:56 AM

It's true, I have just tried. Thanks!

I remembered it is not possible under windows, so I never tried neither under linux.

Michele