lif(4)lif(4)NAMElif - logical interchange format description
DESCRIPTION
LIF (Logical Interchange Format) is a Hewlett-Packard standard mass-
storage format that can be used for interchange of files among various
HP computer systems. A LIF volume contains a header (identifying it as
a LIF volume) and a directory that defines the contents (i.e. files) of
the volume. The size of the directory is fixed when the volume is ini‐
tialized (see lifinit(1)) and sets an upper bound on the number of
files that can be created on the volume.
HP-UX contains a set of utilities (referred to as lif∗(1)) that can be
used to:
· Initialize a LIF volume (i.e. create a header and an empty
directory),
· Copy files to and from LIF volumes,
· List the contents of LIF volumes,
· Remove LIF files,
· Rename LIF files.
The lif∗(1) utilities are the only utilities within HP-UX where the
internal structure of a LIF volume is known. To the rest of HP-UX, a
LIF volume is simply a file containing some unspecified data. The term
LIF volume should in no way be confused with the HP-UX notion of a file
system volume or mountable volume.
LIF utilities on HP-UX currently support three file types, ASCII (1),
BINARY (-2) and BIN (-23951).
Three copying modes are associated with these file types:
If the copying mode is
ASCII and an HP-UX file is being copied to a LIF vol‐
ume, the utility strips the trailing LF (line-feed)
character, and inserts two bytes of record length in
front of each record. These records are then written
to a LIF-formatted medium. When copying a LIF ASCII
file to HP-UX the two-byte record length is stripped
and a trailing LF is appended. These records are then
written to the destination. In this mode of copying,
the length of the file is preserved. The default file
type for this mode of copying is ASCII (1).
If the copying mode is
and an HP-UX file is being copied to a LIF volume, the
utility simply inserts two bytes for record length in
front of each 1-Kbyte record. A trailing fractional
block has a count reflecting the number of bytes in
that block. No interpretation is placed on the con‐
tent of the records. These records are then written
to a LIF-format medium. When copying a LIF file to an
HP-UX file in copying mode, the record lengths are
stripped and the content of records is directly writ‐
ten to the destination. In this mode of copying, the
length of the binary file is preserved. The default
file type for this mode of copying is (-2).
If the copying mode is
RAW, and an HP-UX file is being copied to a LIF vol‐
ume, the utility simply copies the raw data to the
destination. File sizes that are not integer multi‐
ples of 256 bytes are padded with nulls to the next
higher multiple. Therefore, When copying a LIF file
to an HP-UX file in RAW mode, the information is
copied directly without any interpretation placed on
the content of the source. The default file type for
this mode of copying is (-23951).
A LIF volume can be created on any HP-UX file (either regular disk file
or device special file) that supports random access via (see lseek(2)).
lif∗(1) utilities. See lifinit(1) for details. Within a LIF volume,
individual files are identified by 1- to 10-character file names. File
names can consist of uppercase alphanumeric characters (A through Z, 0
through 9) and the underscore character (_). The first character of a
LIF file name must be a letter (A through Z). The lif∗(1) utilities
accept any file name (including illegal file names generated on other
systems), but can only create legal names. This means that files whose
names contain lowercase letters can be read but not created.
LIF file names are specified to the lif∗(1) utilities by concatenating
the HP-UX path name for the LIF volume followed by the LIF file name,
separating the two with a colon For example:
specifies LIF file accessed via HP-UX device special
file
specifies LIF file within HP-UX disk file
Note that this file-naming convention is applicable only for use as
arguments to the lif∗(1) utilities, and does not constitute valid path
naming for any other use within the HP-UX operating system.
lif∗(1) utilities.
SEE ALSOlifcp(1), lifinit(1), lifls(1), lifrename(1), lifrm(1).
lif(4)