Re: File disappeared for no reason.

From: Roberto Zini (rob_at_robnothere.com)
Date: 12/16/03 

Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 13:38:37 +0100

Easynet wrote:
> "Bill Vermillion" <bv@wjv.comREMOVE> wrote in message
> news:Hpy3xJ.Gp4@wjv.com...
>
>>In article <3fddce25$0$13890$afc38c87@news.easynet.co.uk>, Mark
>>Stubbs <mark@sAwNiTfIt.ScPo.AuMk> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Bill, thanks for your reply. It is definately an odd one this!
>
>
>>If you were working on it, then saving it would give the right time
>>stamp so you wouldn't have to touch it.
>>
>>But I digress.
>
>
> True, but I'd actualy just worked on a file included in it, and the system
> is so
> huge that the makefile dependencies aren't that comprehensive (yet).
>
>
>>You're finger didn't accidentally slip when going into vi and you
>>hit ci did you. That can cause a bit of a start when you file is
>>gone. Look for filename with a ,v after it.
>
>
> Yes. Certain for two reasons. We use do use rcs for revision control,
> and it asks for log messages. Also I looked for all files which had been
> editted
> within a day, and nothing fits the bill.
>
>
>>Are you sure you were in the correct directory? I know this sounds
>>bizarre but run a find on the name to be sure.
>
>
> It appears to have completely gone.
>
> I've edited it and took several backups yeterday afternoon, to get the job
> done,
> but I am concerned it the file really did go for no reason, which others are
> going to disappear.
>
> I have never seen this behaviour before.
>
> Mark Stubbs
>
>

Mark,

I destroyed an Unix system many moons ago so perhaps I can offer my 2
Eurocents on this issue :-)

First, did you check your cron settings as to make sure there weren't
any commands which "purged", cleaned up or operated on your working
directory ?

Were you the only one person operating the above box at that time ? I
mean, is it possible that someone had access to your box and made you
some kind of jokes ?

Out of curiosity, did you try a

        find / -type f | xargs grep <something_in_your_file>

just to make sure you didn't move it away from your cwd ?

Not sure if a broken/screwed up filesystem can do that, but what if you
reboot the system with your emergency floppies and perform a full fsck
against your root dir ? Did you find anything into the "lost+found" folder ?

I'm a really really low skilled developer but are you sure you didn't
programmed your makefile as to remove/clean the file under some unusual
circumstances ?

Last: if you're pretty sure you did things the right way (and I'm pretty
suire you're), then what about setting up SCO OS5's system auditing ?
That will put your system under a tremendous amount of work (depending
on the settings you select) but hopefully will give you some pointers
about what might be wrong during your daily job.

Please fire up "scoadmin" and select "System -> Security -> Audit
Manager" (this is on SCO OS 5.0.5; can't check on a 5.0.6/5.0.7 box
right now); from there, please start playing with the available options.

Also, take a look at the System Administrator Guide: there you'll find
some good references about the auditing subsystem that you can use to
suit your own needs.

Happy ghost-hunting (sp?),
Roberto 

-- 
Roberto Zini - Technical Support Manager - email:r.zini<AT>strhold.it
Technical Support Manager -- Strhold Evolution Division  R.E. (ITALY)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Has anybody around here seen an aircraft carrier?"
         (Pete "Maverick" Mitchell - Top Gun)

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