link, unlink

PURPOSE

     Performs a link or unlink system call.

SYNOPSIS
     link [ file1  file2 ]

     unlink [ file ]

DESCRIPTION

     The link  and unlink  commands perform  the corresponding
     system  calls of  the same  name on  the specified  file,
     abandoning all error checking.  These commands can be run
     only by  a user  operating with superuser  authority (see
     "su").  You should  be familiar with the  link and unlink
     system calls described in  AIX Operating System Technical
     Reference.

     The link and unlink commands  do not issue error messages
     when the associated system call fails; you must check the
     exit  value   to  determine  if  the   command  completed
     normally.  Each  returns a 0 if  it succeeds, a 1  if you
     specify too  few or too many  parameters, and a 2  if its
     system call fails.

     Warning:  The  link and unlink commands  allow the super-
     user to  deal with  unusual problems,  such as  moving an
     entire  directory to  a different  part of  the directory
     tree.  They  also permit  you to create  directories that
     cannot be  reached or escaped  from.  Be careful  to pre-
     serve directory structure.

     To  preserve directory  structure  observe the  following
     rules:

     o   Be  certain every  directory has  a .  (dot) link  to
         itself.
     o   Be certain every  directory has a  ..  (dot dot) link
         to its parent directory.
     o   Be certain every directory has  no more than one link
         to it.
     o   Be  certain every  directory is  accessible from  the
         root of its file system.

     Note:  If the  . (dot) entry has been  destroyed and fsck
     is unable to  repair it (a rare occurrence),  you can use
     the  link command  to restore  the .  (dot) entry  of the
     damaged  directory with  the command:   link  dir   dir/.
     where dir is the name  of the damaged directory.  However
     use  this only  as a  last resort  when the  directory is
     destroyed and fsck is unable to fix it.

RELATED INFORMATION

     The following commands:  "ln" and "fsck, dfsck."

     The link and unlink system  calls in AIX Operating System
     Technical Reference.