Re: [sort of OT] Re: postfix + ocfs

Alex van den Bogaerdt:
> On Wed, Feb 04, 2004 at 11:34:46AM -0500, Wietse Venema wrote:
>
> > Rename() is destructive. If the target exists, then you
> > silently lose mail.
> >
> > Another reason is that ext2fs could lose files after rename(),
> > in violation with the rename() definition.
>
> Ack, something not easely found in documentation unless you
> know where to find it. It is _not_ in (my copy of) the rename(2)
> doc!

Wietse

Solaris:

If the link named by new exists, the file's link count
becomes zero when it is removed, and no process has the file
open, then the space occupied by the file will be freed and
the file will no longer be accessible. If one or more
processes have the file open when the last link is removed,
the link will be removed before rename() returns, but the
removal of the file contents will be postponed until all
references to the file have been closed.

Linux:

If newpath already exists it will be atomically replaced
(subject to a few conditions - see ERRORS below), so that
there is no point at which another process attempting to
access newpath will find it missing.

FreeBSD:

Rename() causes the link named from to be renamed as to. If to exists,
it is first removed.