Option Directories -- repln Script

This page provides a reference guide for the repln script. The script is useful in creating and maintaining the symbolic links used to glue our opt directories together. The primary job repln does is to replicate symbolic links, but its options permit it to do more than that, and in some usefully-structured ways.

Command-Line Syntax

repln [ options ] [ from-directory ] ...

Where 'options' are selected from the following list. Options are divided into four categories:

• Policy options. These options support local opt policies, and have certain pre-determined behaviors built into their functioning.
• File-related options. These alter the script's behavior in relation to files and directories.
• Operational preferences. These options alter the way the script does its job in various ways.
• Location options. These options tell the script where to perform its operations.

Policy Options

--opt

Propagate standard /opt directory structure; ignores these other options: --(no)new, --(no)links, --to, --parent

--app

Create "convenience" links from an /opt/appname directory's standard subdirectories into /opt/bin, /opt/lib, etc.; ignores these other options: --(no)links, --parent; implies --new

-d, --dev

Do a "developer" replication, including the include subdirectory. Only applies when the --opt or --app options are used.

--master, --mstr

Initial install of an app in a "master" /opt directory remotely. This is actually just shorthand for --sub=s+/mstr++, but when used with --from=/opt/mstr/appname --to=/opt/mstr, works really cool

File-Related Options

-n, --new

Also create new links to real files found in "from" directories

--nonew

Do not create new links to real files (default)

-l, --links

Replicate symbolic links (default)

--nolinks

Do not replicate symbolic links

-m, --mkdirs

Make new target directories if they do not exist (especially useful when the --recursive option is used)

--recursive

Traverse any subdirectories found, and perform requested operation in them, too. Often more useful if the --mkdirs option is also given.

-s cmd, --sub=cmd

Perform a perl substitute command on link contents before creating the link (eg. --sub=s/pkg/mstr/, or -s s+/mstr++). Use this when the links are being created in the right place, but for some reason have the wrong value.

Operational Preferences

-q, --quiet

Quiet mode; don't show the rename commands as they are executed

--verbose

Verbose mode; show more info about operation

-v, --view

View-only mode; show links which would be created, but don't actually create them

--force

Replace existing links (otherwise they're skipped)

--refresh

Skip items which already have a target link

-h, --help

Print this help message

Location Options

-f dir, --from=dir

Set "from" directory, eg. -f /net/srvr01/_c/opt.10, or --from=/opt/appname

-t dir, --to=dir

Set "to" directory, into which links will be created (default current working directory)

-p dir, --parent=dir

Set "parent" directory; when this option is used, directory names listed positionally on the command line are subordinate to this parent directory

Usage Notes

Note that the --parent and --from options are mutually exclusive. To include the parent directory itself when using --parent, add "." (a period, meaning current directory) to the list of subdirectories. Also, --nonew and --nolinks are mutually exclusive; since --nonew is the default, this means that --nolinks must be accompanied by --new.

In the output, a ---> marker denotes a replicated symbolic link. A -+-> marker denotes a new link, created to point to a real file.

Examples

After a new app is created in /opt/mstr, to install convenience links on the master machine itself:

   repln  --app  --from=/opt/mstr/appname  --to=/opt/mstr  --master

   repln  --opt  --from=/opt/mstr  --to=/net/hostname/opt  --refresh

   repln  --from=fromdir  --to=todir