Topic: Contrib for viewing which users are accessing which files?

[wingman]

Does anyone know of a contrib that will allow me to see which files are being accessed by which users? I need something similar to the utility in Windows that will give me the file name and user name, preferably sorted by user.

Thanks

[mbachmann]

No contrib which will do that but the console command

Code: [Select]

lsof will do what you desire if you hit the right switches.

[wingman]

Thanks for your response. This would work, except that for any file within a folder shared to everyone on my network, it shows that the user "root" has them open, not the actual user who is using that file.
I have read up on all the switches, and don't see what I am doing wrong.
I am using this command:
lsof +D /home/e-smith/files/ibays/<shared folder name>, which causes lsof to traverse the named folder and all subfolders and files. Just what I want it to do, but I need to know who is actually accessing the file...and it isn't root, which is what lsof returns.
Any other ideas?

Thanks
Joe Burkhead

[Anonymous]

I'm sure there is a better solution but as a last resort you could look at the logs to see when someone was logged on and the files that were accessed at that time.

[wingman]

Thanks, but that isn't why I need to see who has the file in use. I need it in real-time. In our office (we prepare income tax returns) I need to be able to easily and quickly see who is in the program when we need to apply an update so that I can make sure that they are all out of it before proceeding with the update. We have a rather large office, and going around and physically checking is not a good option.

Joe

[Anonymous]

... I need to be able to easily and quickly see who is in the program  ...  make sure that they are all out of it  ... large office, and going around and physically checking is not a good option.
Joe

Do you have an IM system?  You can broadcast a message telling everyone to close the program.

[wingman]

.....and if someone is not in their office at the time? Then the program is still open on their machine, and the updates cannot be applied.

Please don't flame me, but this is soooo easy to see on a Windows server. Isn't there a way on SME??

Joe

[mdo]

Try "smbstatus" on the server console (or through putty), maybe that's what you want?

Regards,
Michael

[wingman]

Thanks, Michael. That will give me what I need!

I just love SME. Wish I knew as much as some of you gurus!

Joe