Episode 35 — Links and metadata: hard vs symbolic, stat thinking, and why it matters
Links are a Linux+ staple because they reveal how Linux represents files and how administrators can design flexible paths without duplicating data. This episode explains hard links and symbolic links as two distinct mechanisms: hard links are additional directory entries pointing to the same inode, while symbolic links are special files that point to a path name. You’ll learn why the exam cares: link types affect backup behavior, permission troubleshooting, and what happens when a target moves or is replaced. We also introduce “stat thinking,” meaning you can look at metadata—ownership, permissions, timestamps, link count, inode—and infer what is actually being referenced and why a change did or did not affect what you expected.
we apply link concepts to practical scenarios and common misconceptions. You’ll practice diagnosing cases where deleting a file “does nothing” because another hard link still references the inode, or where a symlink breaks after a directory restructure even though the original content still exists elsewhere. We also cover how links interact with security and operations: symlinks can redirect unsuspecting processes to unintended locations, and hard links can complicate forensic interpretation if you don’t track link counts and inodes. Finally, you’ll learn best practices aligned with exam expectations: verify what a path resolves to before changing it, use stat-style metadata reasoning to confirm identity, and treat link behavior as a design choice that must be documented so teams understand what is real content versus an alias. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
