a quick ls question
 

ls man:
-i Precede the output for the file by the file serial number (i-node number).

shell:
tearinox@tearinox:~/Downloads$ ls -i
819206 COMMON.TAR 819209 LINUXRDR.TAR 819204 NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run 819205 linux-508.tar.gz
819207 INSTALL* 819212 LimeWireLinux.bin 819211 README* 819213 mozilla-i686-pc-linux-gnu-1.5-sea.tar.gz
819208 LICREAD.TXT 819210 MANIFEST 819203 legends.tar.gz 819202 noiakdeicon100.tgz

What are all those so called "file serial numbers"? are they of any use?

thx

I believe - gurus correct me - that those are the actual identifiers of the files on your system. The filenames that you use are linked to the inode numbers that the computer understands. That way, you have symbolic links - two filenames mapped to one inode. As far as the use, it may be helpful for data recovery if things get fubared or have some programming uses but I'm not aware of a casual-user-purpose to them. The filesystem has a set amount of space for record-keeping and actually a finite number of inodes allotted - it's possible to run out of inode numbers without running out of diskspace if stuff has been formatted in one way and your usage ends up another way, though - again - this is something that never crops up in ordinary practical use. They're absolutely vital, yet not important for general purposes.

hmmm interesting.. a must research! but im tired... lol.. thx digiot

No problem. :)