Commands Reference, Volume 2

du Command

Syntax

du [ -a | -s ] [ -k ] [ -l ] [ -r ] [ -x ] [ File ... ]

The du command displays the number of blocks used for files. If the File parameter specified is actually a directory, all files within the directory are reported on. If no File parameter is provided, the du command uses the files in the current directory.

If the File parameter is a directory, then the number of blocks reported is the sum of blocks allocated for the files in the directory and the blocks allocated for the directory itself.

Specifying the -a flag reports the number of blocks in individual files. Whether the -a flag is used or not, individual files specified by the File parameter are always listed.

Specifying the -s flag reports the total blocks for all specified files or all files in a directory.

The block count includes indirect blocks of each file. Block count is calculated in 512-byte units independent of the cluster size used by the system. Specifying the -k flag calculates the block count in 1024-byte units.

Notes:

Files with multiple links are counted and written for only one entry.
Block counts are based only on file size; therefore, unallocated blocks are not accounted for in the reported block counts.
If du cannot obtain the file attributes or cannot read directories, it reports an error and the exit status of the command is affected.

Flags

-a	Displays disk usage for each file specified, or displays the individual disk usage for each file in a directory. Contrast this flag with the -s flag.
-k	Calculates the block count in 1024-byte units rather than the default 512-byte units.
-l	Allocates blocks evenly among the links for files with multiple links. By default, a file with two or more links is counted only once.
-r	Reports names of inaccessible files and directories. This is the default.
-s	Displays the total disk usage for all specified files, or displays the total disk usage for all files in a directory. Contrast this flag with the -a flag.
-x	When evaluating file sizes, evaluates only those files that reside on the same device as the file or directory specified by the File parameter. For example, you may specify a directory that contains files on several devices. In this case, the -x flag displays block sizes for all files that reside on the same device as the directory.

Exit Status

This command returns the following exit values:

0	Successful completion.
>0	An error occurred.

Examples

To summarize the disk usage of a directory tree and each of its subtrees, enter:
```
du /home/fran
```
This displays the number of disk blocks in the /home/fran directory and each of its subdirectories.
To display the disk usage of each file, enter:
du -a /home/fran
This displays the number of disk blocks contained in each file and subdirectory of the /home/fran directory. The number beside a directory is the disk usage of that directory tree. The number beside a regular file is the disk usage of that file alone.
To display only the total disk usage of a directory tree, enter:
du -s /home/fran
The -s flag instructs the du command to display only the sum total disk usage of the /home/fran directory and the files it contains. By default, the du command displays an error message if it cannot read a file or directory.

Files

/usr/bin/du

Contains the du command.

Related Information

The df command.

The Directory Overview in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System User's Guide: Operating System and Devices explains working with directories and path names.

The Files Overview in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System User's Guide: Operating System and Devices provides information on working with files.