File checker: A summary

[Dave Sill]

Previously, I wrote:
> Subject: File checker
> Is there a free utility that reads a file containing a list of files
> and their modes/owners/groups, compares them to the actual files, and
> either reports the inconsistencies or corrects them?  Just thought I'd
> check before I re-invent.

Following is a summary of the replies I've received to date.

1) Two people suggested short awk/ls/diff-based scripts.  For my
purposes, this is inadequate.  I need to check about 1500 files and
any form of shell script would just be too slow.

2) Three people mentioned that there is a nice script in "UNIX
Security" by Kochan and Wood that does this.  Again, too slow for me.

3) One person suggested that such a utility would be useful if it was
quick enough.

4) One person suggested trying `cfs' by Rex Sanders.  I was unable to
reach him.

5) One person suggested that the PD stat program might be useful.
True, but not a complete solution.

6) One person volunteered his own unfinished program to do this (Wade
Stebbings, wade at violet.berkeley.edu).  I would have taken him up on
this, had I not already received number 7...

7) Dave Curry gave me a copy of his program `fcc', File Consistency
Checker.  This turned out to be everything I wanted.  It consists of
two programs: fcc and fci.  Fci takes a list of files and produces a
data file for fcc based on the current stats of each file.  Fcc
compares the data file against the current file system and, depending
on how you call it and how you have your data file set up, reports
differences in mode, owner, group, file type, link count, size, and
modification time.  An option to fcc causes it to try to correct
owner, group, and mode inconsistencies.  On my unloaded tahoe it takes
30 seconds to check 1500+ files.  On a lightly loaded 780 it takes a
minute to check 1300+ files.

I've made several changes to fcc and fci, and have Dave's permission
to distribute copies of the source, which includes a makefile and man
pages, to anybody that wants them.  Drop me a line and I'll send you
the shar file.

Thanks to all who replied.

-Dave