[SOLVED] Why use hard links instead of soft links

[Acidean]

Hey guys and girls

I'm studying my Linux+ at the moment and am a complete noob to Linux. One of the things I'm reviewing is links and have the following question.

Why use hard links instead of soft links

I've one some tests, creating both hard links and soft links to the same file, and when I do a ls -la and look at the file properties it appears that the hard link makes a complete copy of the file, while the soft link only makes a link (like a MS shortcut) to the file. The way I get to this conclusion, is that the hard link is the same size as the actual file, but the soft link is much smaller in size (like a shortcut would be)

I'd appreciate any feedback if I'm incorrect (which I probably am)

Thanx in advance
Acidean

[b2bwild]

No, hard link represents the i-node enrty.
Where the soft link represts the file name and its path.

do one experiment.
Create one file now create 1 hard link and 1 soft link.
then execute ls -il in folder

# ls -il

You will notice, Hard Link and File have same Inode
Where as Soft Link is like shortcut and a different file, so it will have different inode.


EDIT: I will do that for you

pratik@pratik-desktop:~$ mkdir test
pratik@pratik-desktop:~$ cd test/
pratik@pratik-desktop:~/test$ touch hehe
pratik@pratik-desktop:~/test$ ln hehe hehehe
pratik@pratik-desktop:~/test$ ls -il
total 0
2285731 -rw-r--r-- 2 pratik pratik 0 2009-02-18 13:40 hehe
2285731 -rw-r--r-- 2 pratik pratik 0 2009-02-18 13:40 hehehe
pratik@pratik-desktop:~/test$ ln -s hehe haha
pratik@pratik-desktop:~/test$ ls -il
total 0
2285732 lrwxrwxrwx 1 pratik pratik 4 2009-02-18 13:40 haha -> hehe
2285731 -rw-r--r-- 2 pratik pratik 0 2009-02-18 13:40 hehe
2285731 -rw-r--r-- 2 pratik pratik 0 2009-02-18 13:40 hehehe
pratik@pratik-desktop:~/test$

Just observe.

[Acidean]

Ok, so let me see if I understand this correctly...

Every file created on a Linux box receives a i-node entry. This i-node entry is effectively the "file name" from the reference point of view. The file name that we as uses see, as well as the hard link is effectively a link to the i-node entry (which is like a shortcut). A soft link, is then a link to a hard link, which in turn is a link to the i-node entry.

So in short, the i-node entry is the file, the file name is a hard link and a soft link is a "shortcut" to a hard link.

Is this understanding correct ?

Thanx

[b2bwild]

If you read the documentation on inode, available on the internet. Its really hard to understand. cause its explained in big walls of text.

In simple term
There is inode table in filesystem.
each inode entry holds the information about the file
i.e. its physical location on the drive, path of file, and other
each entry have a number. called as "inode"

Hard Link is the duplication of inode,
Where soft link is just a shortcut. when we read the hard link we are reading the original file.. so it shows us the real size of file.

So yes you are right. you can call the hard link as acutal file
cause when you delete the Original file, soft link will die where hard link and file will be still usable.

[Acidean]

Ok brilliant, now I get it

Thank you very much for your help