Attaching a directory

Getting to another directory can involve quite a bit of typing, so Unix gives you the option of giving a long path name a nickname or alias using the attach command.

You should attach directories that you need to access but from which you do not need to run software. To use additional software you must use the add command.

With the attach command you can replace the long path name

cd /afs/eos.ncsu.edu/info/eos_info

with the short path name

cd /ncsu/eos_info

Incidentally, the "eos_info" locker contains public information about the Engineering Computing Center's Eos system is kept. This is a particularly good source if you wish to learn about more advanced computing.

Once a directory or locker is attached, you only have to preface the directory or locker name with /ncsu/.

Be aware that just attaching a directory doesn't mean you can look at or use everything inside it. For instance, in the "eos_info" locker there are several directories that will list with "Permission denied" after them. Obviously, these are off limits.

Last modified July 20, 2004 by cawalker