[CentOS] Re: ls and rm: "argument list too long"

on 10-17-2008 2:30 AM Jussi Hirvi spake the following:

Since when is there a limit in how long directory listings CentOS can show (ls), or how large directories can be removed (rm). It is really annoying to say, for example

rm -rf /var/amavis/tmp

and get only "argument list too long" as feedback.

Is there a way to go round this problem?

I have CentOS 5.2.

It isn't a problem with the commands, it is a problem of how long a command line can be when piped to a command.

rm -rf /var/amavis/tmp is effectively the same as rm -rf /var/amavis/tmp/1 /var/amavis/tmp/2 /var/amavis/tmp/3 /var/amavis/tmp/4 /var/amavis/tmp/5 ... etc. The number of diles and directories in that folder is the limiting factor.

And yes, Fedora would have the same limitation.