SAMS Teach Yourself Unix in 10 Minutes

The touch Command

Creating a new empty file in Unix is easy when you use the touch command. The touch command is used to update the last modified time of a file, setting it to the current time. This is usually not commonly used, but knowing about it can serve you well. The touch command is normally used with one particular area: backup and disaster recovery. As a Unix system administrator, you may be asked to do backup and restore jobs. There are a few different types (and methods) of backup and restore you can choose from, one of which is called an ”incremental backup. Although this may not be something you work with in Unix, it is something you are most likely affected by. Most systems are backed up and protected by companies that need to save ...