[net.wanted.sources] Program to check files for changes

david@ukma.UUCP (David Herron, NPR Lover) (01/04/85)

I was about to write a program that would keep a list of (a portion of)
the files on a filesystem, and make a note whenever a file changes.
The idea is to know what files need to be restored when catastrophe
strikes.  The program as designed so far would recursively look under
certain directories, and note a change in the file if a "stat" of it comes
out different than yesterdays "stat".  Any differences noted would
be collected in the master list and also sent to the root as a mail
message.  (Or a responsible party if the roots mail doesn't get read
too often).  Differences are one of: 1) change in "stat", 2) deletion,
3) new file.

There was a program on the last usenix tape (called tron) which did
something similar to this.  However it was very system V specific,
and specific to a local quota system, and very paranoic.  I decided
it would be better to write one from scratch.  But before possibly
re-inventing the wheel it might be better to ask if someone else
has already done this.  Or alternatively, I would be open to suggestions
on features such a program should have.

Thank you.
--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:-
David Herron;  ARPA-> "ukma!david"@ANL-MCS
(Try the arpa address w/ and w/o the quotes, I have had much trouble with both.)

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