File node

A File node is most often used to track a configuration file. The files that are tracked for each OS are specified by patterns. File nodes are under the full control of patterns.

For detailed information about patterns, see the The Pattern Language TPL and Configipedia.

File node lifecycle

The following section describes the scenarios in which a File node is created, updated or removed.

Creation/update

This is under the full control of patterns and as a result there is no default File node behavior.
The generated key for a File node is entirely dependent on the pattern that creates the File node.

Removal

A File node can be destroyed in one of following ways:

Explicitly by the pattern that created it. See Removal in the Pattern Language guide
If the File node is triggered from another Inferred node, then when this inferred node is destroyed, so will the File node. This is a Cascade Removal type, see Cascade Removal.
Manually, by selecting the necessary File node, and picking Destroy from the Actions list.

File node attributes

The attributes and relationships on a File node are described in the tables below.

UI Name Attribute Name and Type	Description
Path `path string`	The absolute path to the tracked configuration file.
Size `size int`	The size (in bytes) of the tracked configuration file.
MD5 Checksum `md5sum string`	The md5 checksum of the file.
Last Modified `last_modified string`	The time and date of the last modification to tracked configuration file. This date and time is taken from the file's timestamp on the host machine.
Content `content string`	The raw contents of the tracked configuration file. This attribute is populated by a cat command on UNIX or a type command in Windows. Binary files can be modelled, but the contents will not included.

File node relationships

The relationships on a File node are described in the table below.

UI name	Relationship	Description
Host	`File: HostedFile: HostedFile: Host: Host`	Hosts on which this File node is tracked.
Software Instances	`File: File: RelatedFile: ElementUsingFile: SoftwareInstance`	Software Instances which use this File node.
Depended Upon By	`File: DependedUpon: Dependency: Dependant: Detail`	Details depending on this file.
Maintaining Pattern	`File: Element: Maintainer: Pattern: Pattern`	Pattern maintaining this file.