This directory of Linux commands is from Linux in a Nutshell, 5th Edition.
Click on any of the 687 commands below to get a description and list of available options. All links in the command summaries point to the online version of the book on Safari Bookshelf.
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ln
ln [options] sourcename [destname] ln [options] sourcenames destdirectory
Create pseudonyms (links) for files
The first form links sourcename to destname, where destname is usually either a new filename or (by default) a file in the current directory with the same name as sourcename. If destname is an existing file, it is overwritten; if destname is an existing directory, a link named sourcename is created in that directory. The second form creates links in destdirectory, each link having the same name as the file specified.
Options
Back up any existing files. When using the long version of the command, the optional control parameter controls the kind of backup. When no control is specified, ln will attempt to read the control value from the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Accepted values are:
none, off Never make backups.
numbered, t Make numbered backups.
existing, nil Match existing backups, numbered or simple.
simple, never Always make simple backups.
Allow hard links
to directories. Available to privileged users.
Force the link (don't prompt for overwrite permission).
Print a help message and then exit.
Prompt for permission before removing files.
Replace symbolic links
to directories instead of dereferencing them. --force is useful with this option.
Create a symbolic link. This lets you link across filesystems, and also see the name of the link when you run ls -l (otherwise, there's no way to know the name that a file is linked to).
Append suffix to files when making backups, instead of the default ~.
Create links in the specified directory.
Verbose mode.
Print version information and then exit.
