fuser - identify processes using a file or file structure

Eric,

check out the lsof(8) manpage.

lsof .
COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
ksh 21531 andya cwd VDIR 14,5 2992 471533 .
ksh 22865 andya cwd VDIR 14,5 2992 471533 .
vim 23364 andya cwd VDIR 14,5 2992 471533 .
lsof 23652 andya cwd VDIR 14,5 2992 471533 .
lsof 23653 andya cwd VDIR 14,5 2992 471533 .

Andy

Hi Eric,
I agree with Andy; lsof is by far the most flexible tool for doing what you want. You gave an example that involved a specific directory to "watch" and only lsof will do that. However, for the sake of completeness, there is another command called fs_usage. That must be run as root and looks at the entire filesystem. You can't tell it which files to watch but you can tell it which processes to monitor. One hint: use a large terminal window or use the -w switch. In absence of -w, the information output depends on terminal window size.
--
Gary
~~~~
Nothing cures insomnia like the realization that it's
time to get up.

Eric,


if lsof is not what you're looking for. Then perhaps we'll need a better idea about what it is that you are trying to accomplish.

Andy