Shared Files (see Fig. 6)

• Copy entire directory entry (including file attributes)
  • Updates to shared file not seen by all parties
  • Not useful
• Keep attributes separate (in Inode) and create a new entry that points to the attributes (hard link)
  • Updates visible
  • If one link remove, the other remains (ownership is an issue)
• Create a special "LINK" file that contains the pathname of the shared file (symbolic link)
  • File removal leaves dangling links
  • Not as efficient to access

Figure 6: Left: File system containing a shared file. Right: (a) Situation prior to linking (b) After the link is created (c)After the original owner removes the file.