Fsutil hardlink

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2,Windows 7,Windows Server 2000,Windows Server 2003,Windows Vista,Windows Server 2008,Windows Server 2008 R2

Creates a hard link between an existing file and a new file.

Syntax

	$lib:\\fsutilhardlink.bmp$ Copy Code
fsutil hardlink create <NewFileName> <ExistingFileName> fsutil hardlink list <Filename>

Parameter	Description
create	Establishes an NTFS hard link between an existing file and a new file. (An NTFS hard link is similar to a POSIX hard link.)
<NewFileName>	Specifies the file that you want to create a hard link to.
<ExistingFileName>	Specifies the file that you want to create a hard link from.
list	Lists the hardlinks to Filename. This parameter applies to: Windows Server® 2008 R2 and Windows® 7.

A hard link is a directory entry for a file. Every file can be considered to have at least one hard link. On NTFS volumes, each file can have multiple hard links, so a single file can appear in many directories (or even in the same directory with different names). Because all of the links reference the same file, programs can open any of the links and modify the file. A file is deleted from the file system only after all links to it have been deleted. After you create a hard link, programs can use it like any other file name.