CODEWITHSUNDEEP
linuxlinux-kernel
iceKing
iceKing

Reputation: 167

About the member "i_count" of structure "inode"

"i_count" of structure "inode" is the reference to "inode".
When a process open a file and reads it, the value of "i_count" is 1.
When another process open the same file and reads it, the value of "i_count" is still 1, not 2.

Then what does the "i_count" of structure "inode" really mean?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 1050

Answers (2)

Three Alley
Three Alley

Reputation: 1

i_count is a kernel struct, represent how many function is using this "stuct inode".

It has no relationship with anything in user space.

I am a newbie in kernel, that's my understand.

Upvotes: 0

CL.
CL.

Reputation: 180060

i_count is increased by code that is about to do something to the inode and needs to prevent it from being freed from the cache. (See the callers of ihold().)

This additional reference is held only for a short time during such operations, so it is unlikely that you actually observe it.

Upvotes: 3

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