Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!cynic!curt From: curt@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca (Curt J. Sampson) Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc Subject: Re: Sticky bit? Keywords: sticky, directory Message-ID: <1991Mar25.092510.14719@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca> Date: 25 Mar 91 09:25:10 GMT References: <1991Mar24.223426.10401@cs.umu.se> <1991Mar25.012637.10647@mp.cs.niu.edu> Organization: Mad Artists' Technological Hangout Lines: 21 In article <1991Mar25.012637.10647@mp.cs.niu.edu> rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert) writes: > Today the sticky bit is often used on public directories (such as /tmp) with > the meaning that only the owner of a file can 'rm' that file. > > The original meaning applied to executables. It meant that the executable > was to remain always in memory, even when not in use. Keep in mind that the newer meanings of the sticky bit, such as making a directory "append-only," may not apply to many UNIX systems. My SCO Xenix 2.3.2 will not recognise a sticky bit on a directory. On my 286 system its only use is to keep text segments in the swap space. On the 386 versions, since they use virtual memory, not even that applies. cjs -- | "It is actually a feature of UUCP that the map of curt@cynic.uucp | all systems in the network is not known anywhere." curt@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca | --Berkeley Mail Reference Manual (Kurt Schoens)