I've added a path to /etc/ld.so.conf using vi, when i reopen it I get:
"Found a swap file by the name ".ld.so.conf.swp"
dated: Sun Jun 2 10:56:29 2002
owned by: root
file name: /etc/ld.so.conf
modified: YES
host name: HIC
user name: root
process ID: 1318
While opening file "ld.so.conf"
dated: Sun Jun 2 11:51:04 2002

(1) Another program may be editing the same file.
If this is the case, be careful not to end up with two
different instances of the same file when making changes.
Quit, or continue with caution.

(2) An edit session for this file crashed.
If this is the case, use ":recover" or "vim -r ld.so.conf"
to recover the changes (see ":help recovery)".
If you did this already, delete the swap file ".ld.so.conf.swp"
to avoid this message. "

what mean this?

It looks like you have killed vi when editing the file etc. If no changes are lost, you can safely delete the .swp file.

I have a quick semi-related question. Why are you using vi?

I am using vi to edit ld.so.conf, in order to add a path to this file,
this is for installing dsniff.

one would guess he is using vi because he likes it. it's an indiviual choice... you may prefer write or whatever... i use pico.

But vim fans are sometimes annoying. Especially when vim is the only one editor on installation/rescue cd.

I would suggest anyone using *nix to learn vi, first its available on about any *nix OS, second, there might be times when you only have vi or vim to use to edit any files.
I use vi and prefer it, its quick and easy to use.

vi=toughest text editor on planet for me. I made some notes for myself to look 'em up everytime I need to edit crontab, other than that never use it.

pico is my favourite.

I disagree. It took me 2 months to remember how to exit it (in that time, when I had started it by accident I just switched to another console and killed it...). I KNOW it may be easy and powerful, but only if you know all the keys! I don't have enought time to learn them... That's why I prefer joe (and it's help).

I personally prefer Nano. Nice and easy. I still need to get Pico, though. Pico is nice. I've heard good things about Emacs, but I've never used it.

Well I don't mean you have to use it for all your editing, I just suggest anyone to get some basics of it so if your ever stuck in that situation where you have to use it, then your not totally stuck.

Well, for me it's easier to write my own editor and have its source always with me than to learn vi. Sorry...

Yeah, you are definitely right. Today I was installing LFS and during the install I installed VIM. Although I ended up being able to edit it with PICO from my host system, I didn't know that at the time... So I typed vi file. How dumb was that? Now I am in VIM. Stuck. Stuck like no other. Pressing CTRL + C thinking it might kick it out, nope. Finally I remember back to a post I saw once that : was the first part of a command in vi and q was to quit. Woohoo for my memory of VIM. Bad me for not listening to Trickykid earlier

That's why I don't know why there is usually only vim available by default...

I would amend that to say " ... anyone using *nix as a profession to learn vi, ... ". Beyond that there are any number of editors (jed, xjed, joe, and others) that are just as powerful and many times easier to use.

But that's just me !!