Name
chattr
Synopsis
chattr [options
]mode
files
Modify file attributes. Specific to Linux Second and Third Extended Filesystem (ext2 and ext3). Behaves similarly to symbolic chmod, using +, -, and =. mode is in the form opcode attribute. See also lsattr.
Options
- -R
Modify directories and their contents recursively.
- -V
Print modes of attributes after changing them.
- -v version
Set the file’s version.
Opcodes
- +
Add attribute.
- -
Remove attribute.
- =
Assign attributes (removing unspecified attributes).
Attributes
- A
Don’t update access time on modify.
- a
Append only for writing. Can be set or cleared only by a privileged user.
- c
Compressed.
- d
No dump.
- i
Immutable. Can be set or cleared only by a privileged user.
- j
Journalled file. This is useful only in cases where you are using an ext3 filesystem mounted with the data="ordered" or data="writeback" attributes. The data="journalled" option for the filesystem causes this operation to be performed for all files in the system and makes this option irrelevant.
- S
Synchronous updates.
- s
Secure deletion. The contents are zeroed on deletion, and the file cannot be undeleted or recovered in any way.
- u
Undeletable. This causes a file to be saved even after it has been deleted, so that a user can undelete it later.
Example
chattr +a myfile
As superuser
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