inode number

zahheb · 08-22-2012, 10:57 PM

in linux what do we mean when we say that the kernel sees the inode number and never the file name??

does it mean that any file we refer has an equivalent inode number and kernel will always use it when any access to that file is required ??

thanks

austintx · 08-23-2012, 12:07 AM

quote: "what do we mean when we say that the kernel sees the inode number and never the file name??"

Who says that?
How can you access the inode without a filename or a hard link? (Maybe the FBI can)
I am sure the inode is represented by a number, but the kernel has to link the filename to that inode.

chrism01 · 08-23-2012, 01:48 AM

Much like DNS, its all done with numbers behind the scenes; see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inode#...de_description
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inode_pointer_structure

Ztcoracat · 08-26-2012, 07:11 PM

I just learned about inode's yesterday.

The inode identifies the file and it's attributes.

An inode in a data structure on a traditional Unix-style file system such as UFS or ext 3.
An inode stores basic information about a regular file, directory or other file system object.

You can use the ls -i command to see the inode # of the file.
This is just a sample:

Code:

328820 /etc/password

I found this article with a Google search "Linux File System"
HTH