From: Linus Torvalds Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:29:34 GMT Subject: Re: [PATCH] Cogito documentation updates Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <8664qjph7d.fsf@blue.stonehenge.com> On Wed, 23 Nov 2005, Randal L. Schwartz wrote: > > Delete the -d switch, or explain to me why it is there, and let's work > out a POSIX workaround. It's -d: same as --no-dereference --preserve=link --no-dereference never follow symbolic links --preserve[=ATTR_LIST] preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,owner- ship,timestamps) and security contexts, if possible additional attributes: links, all so it's basically making sure that the copy copies the _link_, not the file it points to. I think you may have to use "cpio -p" instead of "cp" to be portable. Something like cpio -plmu $src $dst might do it. Linus