symlinks to directories and ..

[Peter Werner]

Configuration Information:
Machine: sparc
OS: solaris2.7
Compiler: gcc
Compilation CFLAGS:  -DPROGRAM='bash' -DCONF_HOSTTYPE='sparc'
-DCONF_OSTYPE='solaris2.7' -DCONF_MACHTYPE='sparc-sun-solaris2.7'
-DCONF_VENDOR='sun' -DSHELL  -DHAVE_CONFIG_H  -D_LARGEFILE_SOURCE
-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_LARGEFILE64_SOURCE -I.  -I. -I./include -I./lib
-I/usr/local/include -g -O2
uname output: SunOS wgsn1 5.7 Generic_106541-08 sun4u sparc SUNW,Ultra-250
Machine Type: sparc-sun-solaris2.7

Bash Version: 2.05
Patch Level: 0
Release Status: release

Description:

        its my understanding that when a symlink to a directory is followed,
the
        parent directory of the new CWD will be the real parent directory,
not the
        directory containing the link.

        it is also my understanding that many shells will hide this from the
user
        making the parent directory appear to be the directory containing
the symlink.

        bash seems to be doing this, and is causing confusion when '..' is
used.
        after following a directory symlink, 'ls ..' will display the
contents of the
        real parent dir, but 'cd ..' will place you in the directory
containg the symlink

        substitute ls for any external program (cat grep etc)

Repeat-By:
        [Describe the sequence of events that causes the problem
        to occur.]

        mkdir -p /some/directory/hier
        ln -s /some/directory/hier dirlink
        touch file1
        touch /some/directory/file2
        cd dirlink
        ls ..
        ^ shows file2 and hier not file1 and dirlink
        cd ..
        ls
        ^ shows file1 and dirlink