2 .TH CHATTR 1 "@E2FSPROGS_MONTH@ @E2FSPROGS_YEAR@" "E2fsprogs version @E2FSPROGS_VERSION@"
4 chattr \- change file attributes on a Linux second extended file system
20 changes the files attributes on an second extended file system.
22 The format of a symbolic mode is +-=[Sacdisu].
24 The operator `+' causes the selected attributes to be added to the
25 existing attributes of the files; `-' causes them to be removed; and
26 `=' causes them to be the only attributes that the files have.
28 The letters `Sacdisu' select the new attributes for the files: synchronous
29 updates (S), append only (a), compressed (c), immutable (i), no dump (d),
30 secure deletion (s), and undeletable (u).
34 Recursively change attributes of directories and their contents.
37 Verbosely describe changed attributes.
40 Set the files version.
42 A file with the `a' attribute set can only be open in append mode for writing.
44 A file with the `c' attribute set is automatically compressed on the disk
45 by the kernel. A read from this file returns uncompressed data. A write to
46 this file compresses data before storing them on the disk.
48 A file with the `d' attribute set is not candidate for backup when the
52 A file with the `i' attribute cannot be modified: it cannot be deleted or
53 renamed, no link can be created to this file and no data can be written
54 to the file. Only the superuser can set or clear this attribute.
56 When a file with the `s' attribute set is deleted, its blocks are zeroed and
57 written back to the disk.
59 When a file with the `S' attribute set is modified,
60 the changes are written synchronously on the disk; this is equivalent to
61 the `sync' mount option applied to a subset of the files.
63 When a file with the `u' attribute set is deleted, its contents is saved.
64 This allows the user to ask for its undeletion.
67 has been written by Remy Card <card@masi.ibp.fr>, the developer and maintainer
69 .SH BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
70 As of ext2 fs 0.5a, the `c' and `u' attribute are not honoured by the kernel
73 These attributes will be implemented in a future ext2 fs version.
76 is available for anonymous ftp from ftp.ibp.fr and tsx-11.mit.edu in
77 /pub/linux/packages/ext2fs.