inodes (was Re: unix question: files per directory)

[Randal L. Schwartz @ Stonehenge]

In article <4822 at macom1.UUCP>, rikki at macom1 (R. L. Welsh) writes:
| From article <24110 at beta.lanl.gov>, by dxxb at beta.lanl.gov (David W. Barts):
| > 
| > How many files can there be in a single UNIX directory
| ...
| 
| You will undoubtedly run out of inodes before you reach any theoretical
| limit.  Every new file you create will use up one inode.

Not quite.  Try 'ln a b >a'.  Only uses one inode, but two directory
slots.  Do that enough (pragmatically determined :-) times, and you
can (theoretically) run out of directory (or disk) room before running
out of inodes.

Just a lurking guru,
(okay, did I blow it this time too..? :-)
-- 
/=====Randal L. Schwartz, Stonehenge Consulting Services (503)777-0095========\
{        on contract to BiiN (for now :-) Hillsboro, Oregon, USA.             }
{<@intel-iwarp.arpa:merlyn at intelob.intel.com> ...!uunet!tektronix!biin!merlyn }
\=====Cute quote: "Welcome to Oregon... home of the California Raisins!"======/