---------------------------- Forwarded with Changes --------------------------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] at ~AMSCCSSW Date: 10/1/97 9:57AM To: James M. Lewis at ~TENCCT1 *To: debian-user@lists.debian.org at ~AMSCCSSW Subject: Re: what is the sticky bit? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually, the sticky bit used to be for binary programs. It caused the program to be retained in the swap file after it was first run. This would cause the prog to run faster the next time it was invoked. Way back when (in the olden days), unix would exec a program by copying it into swap and then allowing the page mechanism to page it into memory for execution. This is not the case anymore. As far as I know, the sticky bit on an executable file does nothing. On some systems, the sticky bit on a _directory_ means that only the owner of a file in that directory can remove it. DEC OSF1 is like this, for example. jim ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: Re: what is the sticky bit? Author: [EMAIL PROTECTED] at ~AMSCCSSW Date: 10/1/97 9:57 AM Paul Miller wrote: > > I know this is a really stupid question.. but what is the sticky bit? > > -Paul The sticky bit allows a UID to be the owner of a file while that file is being accessed by that user. In essence if a user opens a file, that user will be the owner of that file until it is closed. After closing, the file goes back to its original state. **** I THINK **** Peter -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
