rsync version 2.5.6 protocol version 26 on FreeBSD 4.8-STABLE i386 "promotes" character special files to regular files:
--8<---cut here:--start--->8-- # ll /dev/stdout 8282 crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel - 22, 1 Aug 23 17:30 /dev/stdout # rsync localhost::rsync/readme /dev/stdout $Id: readme,v 1.2 2003/08/05 02:38:25 root Exp root $ ... # ll /dev/stdout 7527 -rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel - 136 Aug 24 11:49 /dev/stdout # ./MAKEDEV std # ll /dev/stdout 7527 crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel - 22, 1 Aug 24 11:49 /dev/stdout --8<---cut here:---end---->8-- i know that this (displaying a text file on the console) is not what rsync is meant to do, but since it didn't give any messages or exit- codes, i didn't think of checking /dev/stdout. since then i chased a phantom bug in freebsds update procedure for two weeks, never suspecting an rsync bug. rsync should error exit or message the user when used on special files! regards, clemens -- To unsubscribe or change options: http://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/rsync Before posting, read: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
