Commands Reference, Volume 2

ff Command

Purpose

Lists the file names and statistics for a file system.

Syntax

ff [ -a Number ] [ -c Number ] [ -I ] [ -l ] [ -m Number ] [ -n File ] [ -o Option ] [ -p Prefix ] [ -s ] [ -u ] [ -V VFSName ] [ -i I-Number [ ,I-Number ... ] ] [ FileSystem | DeviceName]

Description

The ff command reads the i-nodes in the file system specified by the FileSystem parameter and then writes information about them to standard output. It assumes the FileSystem is a file system, which is referenced in the /etc/filesystems file, and saves i-node data for files specified by flags.

The output from the ff command consists of the path name for each requested i-node number, in addition to other file information that you can request using the flags. The output is listed in order by i-node number, with tabs between all fields. The default line produced by the ff command includes the path name and i-node number fields. With all flags enabled, the output fields include path name, i-node number, size, and UID (user ID).

The Number parameter is a decimal number that specifies a number of days. It is prefixed by a + or - (plus or minus sign). Therefore, +3 means more than 3 days, -3 means less than 3 days, and 3 means 3 days, where a day is defined as a 24-hour period.

The ff command lists only a single path name out of many possible ones for an i-node with more than one link, unless you specify the -l flag. With the -l flag, the ff command lists all links.

Flags

-a Number	Displays the file if it has been accessed within the number of days specified by the Number parameter.
-c Number	Displays the file if its i-node has been changed within the number of days specified by the Number parameter.
-i I-Number	Displays the files corresponding to the i-node numbers specified by the I-Number parameter. The i-node numbers listed must be separated by a comma.
-I	(This flag is an uppercase i.) Does not display the i-node after each path name.

-l	(This flag is a lowercase L.) Additionally displays a list of pathnames for files with more than one link.
-m Number	Displays the file if it has been modified within the number of days specified by the Number parameter.
-n File	Displays the file if it has been modified more recently than the file specified by the File parameter.
-o Options	Specifies file system implementation-specific options.
-p Prefix	Adds the prefix specified by the Prefix parameter to each path name. The default prefix is . (dot).
-s	Writes the file size, in bytes, after each path name.
-u	Writes the owner's login name after each path name.
-V VFSName	Instructs the ff command to assume the file system is of type VFSName, overriding the value in the /etc/filesystems file.

Examples

To list the path names of all files in a given file system, enter:
ff -I /dev/hd0
This displays the path names of the files on the /dev/hd0 device. If you do not specify the -I flag, the ff command also displays the i-node number of each file.
To list files that have been modified recently, enter:
ff -m -2 -u /dev/hd0
This displays the path name, i-node number, and owner's user name (the -u flag) of each file on the /dev/hd0 device that has been modified within the last two days ( -m -2).
To list files that have not been used recently, enter:
ff -a +30 /dev/hd0
This displays the path name and i-node of each file that was last accessed more than 30 days ago ( -a +30).
To find out the paths corresponding to certain i-node numbers, enter:
ff -l -i 451,76 /dev/hd0
This displays all the path names (-l) associated with i-nodes 451 and 76.

Files

/etc/vfs	Contains descriptions of virtual file system types.
/etc/filesystems	Lists the known file systems and defines their characteristics.

Related Information

The find command, ncheck command.

The File Systems in AIX 5L Version 5.2 System Management Concepts: Operating System and Devices explains file system types, management, structure, and maintenance.