command rm -rf

a.abdulna · 01-10-2014, 07:40 AM

Hello Team,

I need your help for whenever user trying to use rm -rf command system need to confirm like below.

# rm -rf text.txt
Are you sure [Y/n]

Please let me know if anyone knows this.

B. R.
Abdul

jpollard · 01-10-2014, 07:49 AM

What is the question? it just appears that 'rm' has an alias for "rm -i".

a.abdulna · 01-10-2014, 07:51 AM

Yes, while trying 'rm' system asking confirmation but doing forcefully remove like 'rm -rf' we need confirmation by system like below.

# rm -rf text.txt
Are you sure [Y/n]

druuna · 01-10-2014, 07:59 AM

The -f option overrides the -i option.

Solution is simple: Don't use the -f option.

BTW: The -r option, in your example, is also not needed. You remove a specific file, using -r (recursive) is pointless.

zcarlile · 01-10-2014, 02:38 PM

It is should use a simple rm -i file will kick off the interaction.

lleb · 01-10-2014, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpollard

What is the question? it just appears that 'rm' has an alias for "rm -i".

to verify this just type alias at your $ prompt. this sounds like a RH or a fork there of system. RH has the -i set for several options, rm is one of them.

Smokey_justme · 01-10-2014, 02:46 PM

Like jpollard said, you have an alias created that forces rm to execute 'rm -i' or 'rm -I' (where -i comes from interactive)

You can do 'rm -rf --interactive=never text.txt' to suppress the confirmation or reset the alias (search for it in ~/.bashrc or add 'unalias rm' to ~/.bashrc)

However, be very careful when using -rf options.. Don't use them if you really, really don't have to..

John VV · 01-10-2014, 03:37 PM

so !!!!
what is the problem

it is a SAFETY measure
are you REALLY 100% SURE !!! that you want to do something that is NOT UNDOABLE
you can NOT go back and undo this so it is asking are YOU SURE !!!

and you really DO NOT !!!! want to remove that alias
it is there to PROTECT YOU !!!! FROM A TYPO !!!!

without it you can do this and REALLY FUBAR your install

Code:

su -
rm -rf / home/me/testfile.txt

see that blank space before home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

astrogeek · 01-10-2014, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.abdulna

Hello Team,

I need your help for whenever user trying to use rm -rf command system need to confirm like below.

# rm -rf text.txt
Are you sure [Y/n]

Please let me know if anyone knows this.

B. R.
Abdul

I think I read this differently than others.

To me it seems that you are saying that it does NOT offer the confirmation, and you are saying that "system need to confirm like below".

If that is the case then do not use the -f option. The -f option explicitly tells it to NOT confirm. If you want it to confirm anyway, even with -f you can alias rm -rf to rm -ri.

Smokey_justme · 01-10-2014, 04:21 PM

Ohhh.. Yes, astrogeek, I think you're right about what he meant..

But it is possible.. -f and -i/-I contradict each other but no one superseeds the other.. So, if -I is the last argument, -f will be canceled

Put this in the users ~/bashrc (or system wide alternative) .. This will work even if rm is already aliased..

Code:

function rm {
   /usr/bin/rm $@ -I
}

This will always print a prompt if more then 3 files are to be deleted or if recursion will be used..

chrism01 · 01-10-2014, 04:49 PM

It means rm has been aliased to 'rm -i'. You can just specify the actual cmd

Code:

alias r='rm -i'

r t.t
rm: remove regular empty file `t.t'? 
.
.
which rm
/bin/rm
/bin/rm t.t

Note that in the 2nd case it doesn't ask for confirmation ...

The alias may be in the user's .bashrc, or it may be in one of the global files /etc/bashrc.
Personally I always remove the alias; I've been doing this a loonngg time and it just gets in the way. Of course it does mean I have to be careful aka use at your own risk.

a.abdulna · 01-13-2014, 02:27 AM

Hello Smokey_justme,

i have tried below command in .bashrc and its working fine but after removing the same from .bashrc again its asking confirmation, so how to revert old level.

function rm {
/usr/bin/rm $@ -I
}

B.R.
Abdul

chrism01 · 01-13-2014, 04:04 AM

.bashrc is not read dynamically, you'd have to logout & back in again to clear it from memory.

a.abdulna · 01-13-2014, 04:09 AM

Thank you Chris,

its fine now..

Dear All thanks for ur valuable suggestions.

B.R.
Abdul.

sgosnell · 01-13-2014, 12:07 PM

Or instead of logging out, just use

Code:

source .bashrc

. That forces bash to reread .bashrc.