KB#00686-INODE can be reused if a large number of files exist under UNIX

Title:

INODE can be reused if a large number of files exist under UNIX

Description:

In BBx/4 and PRO/5 Revision 1.05 and lower, it's possible for the Inode to be reused if a large number of files exist in the files system. 

If it appears that the wrong file is being opened sometimes, check the fid on the files that are being opened: 

Print fid(chan) 

If they are the same you have encountered the Inode problem and need to upgrade your BASIS product to a current release. 

It would seem that the chances of an Inode being reused are about 1 in 50 million because we don't simply wrap around from INODE 0 to INODE 35565, there is a randomization algorithm attached. Since this algorithm is based on 16-bit systems the possibility that the inode gets reused gets smaller as you increase the OS bit use. What happens is the newer releases of a lot of the UNIX Operating Systems (SCO Openserver 5.0.x, & HP-UX 10.x) make use of 64-Bit File Systems and the above named products assume a 16-Bit system. 

Last Modified: 02/23/2004 Product: PRO/5 Operating System: UNIX

BASIS structures five components of their technology into the BBx Generations.