rsync -a doesn't preserve the timestamp of symbolic link?

guavajuice · 08-11-2008, 01:18 PM

when i try to cp a file to a new directory using rsync -a file new_dir, it preserves my timestamp.
but when i do rsync -a on a symbolic link(it links to a directory), the time stamp becomes the current time.

How can i preserve the timestamp of these symoblic links?

Tinkster · 08-12-2008, 05:02 PM

Hi,

and welcome to LQ!

You can't. And it's not an rsync problem (in fact I don't think
it's a problem at all ;}) but related to the operating system.
You *cannot* modify the time-stamps on symlinks, just as you
cannot change the ownerships.

Cheers,
Tink