attrset - Linux

Overview

attrset is a command used to modify file attributes in Linux systems. It offers a user-friendly interface to set or change file attributes, providing a more convenient alternative to using the chattr command.

Syntax

attrset [options] <attribute> <file/directory>...

Options/Flags

• -V, –version: Display the version information and exit.
• -h, –help: Print usage information and exit.
• –preserve-links: Preserve hard links to the file or directory.
• –recursive: Recursively set attributes on the specified directories.
• -i, –interactive: Prompt for confirmation before making changes.
• -f, –force: Do not prompt for confirmation and overwrite existing attributes without warning.

Examples

Set immutable attribute on a file:

attrset -i +i myfile.txt

Recursively set append-only attribute on a directory and its contents:

attrset -r -i +a /path/to/directory

Clear the norecovery attribute on a USB drive:

attrset -f -i -n /dev/sdc1

Common Issues

• Permission denied: Ensure you have sufficient permissions to modify the file or directory attributes.
• Invalid attribute: Check the spelling of the attribute you are attempting to set.
• File system doesn’t support extended attributes: Some file systems may not support extended attributes.

Integration

attrset can be combined with other commands for advanced tasks:

• Find files with specific attributes: find /path -exec attrset --list {} \;
• Back up files with extended attributes: tar -cpvzf backup.tar.gz -A /path/to/directory

Related Commands

• chattr: Command-line interface for setting and changing file attributes.
• getfattr: Display file attributes.
• setfattr: Set file attributes.