Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!hellgate.utah.edu!csn!peter
From: peter@csn.org (Peter Steinauer)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.aux
Subject: Re: Free disk space that isn't there!
Keywords: df free space disk bug?
Message-ID: <1991Jan19.191032.3184@csn.org>
Date: 19 Jan 91 19:10:32 GMT
References: <1991Jan18.165524.4327@chinet.chi.il.us>
Sender: news@csn.org (Clark Kent)
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Lines: 31
Nntp-Posting-Host: soglio.colorado.edu

In article <1991Jan18.165524.4327@chinet.chi.il.us> henry@chinet.chi.il.us (Henry C. Schmitt) writes:
>I recently ran into a problem and wonder if anyone knows a solution.
>While working on compiling a couple large programs, I started getting
>the error: Out of disk space on file system /usr (or something to
>that effect).  I did a df which showed that /usr had over 10,000 free
>blocks (> 5 MB!!).  However, doing a df as a normal user (I was root
>for compiling) in another window showed 0 free blocks on /usr!!!
>
>The other file systems showed discrepancies of 15-30% in free space
>depending on whether or not I was root.  Why is there free space only
>discernable by root, but not accessable by root?  What's going on
>here?  I'm confused.
>-- 
>  H3nry C. Schmitt     | CompuServe: 72275,1456  (Rarely)
>                       | GEnie: H.Schmitt  (Occasionally)
> Royal Inn of Yoruba   | UUCP: Henry@chinet.chi.il.us  (Best Bet)

Berkley unix file systems have a 'dead zone' on each partition that only 
	root can see. This block is set aside as protection so that the 
	disk partitions don't fill up beyond a 'safe' level... (Older 
	versions didn't handle full file systems very well :-<... )

I hope that answers your question to some extent...

		Pete Steinauer
			University of Colorado Boulder
			CU UnixOps - Systems
			Apple Computer CU Student Rep...
	
			internet:	peter@boulder.colorado.edu
			AppleLink:	ST0604