There are two types of links available
HARD LINKS
SOFT LINKS
HARDLINK
A "hard link" is the process of creating a new name for a file. Both names will point to the same physical file, and if you delete one name (using "rm" or similar), the file will still remain under the other name.
both have same i=node no's
HARD LINK example :-
make file name s1
make a link for that file name it s2 by command
#ln s1 s2
u can check this by giving command
ls -i s1
ls -i s2
BOTH should have same i--nodes
SOFT LINK
When you create a "soft link" (or symbolic link), you just create a small file that contains the name of the file that it points to. means if u take example for windows operating system its like a making a shortcut in WINDOWS
if you delete the original name of the file (ie. the name that the symlink points to), the file will be deleted and the symlink will be "dangling" (giving blinking error) , ie. it will point to a file that doesn't exist.
command
ln -s s1 s2
{ where -s option is used to create soft links }
WAIT TO GET RESPONSE FROM OTHER GUYS ALSO
MAY BE THEY ARE MORE CLEAR IN THIS TOPIC THEN ME
Gaurav