---
name: "ncheck_ffs"
section: "8"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ncheck_ffs"
---

# ncheck\_ffs(8)

generate names from inode-numbers

## NAME

**ncheck\_ffs**, **ncheck** – generate names from inode-numbers

## SYNOPSIS

**ncheck\_ffs** \[**-ams**\] \[**-f** *format*\] \[**-i** *number* *...*\] *filesystem*

## DESCRIPTION

**ncheck\_ffs** generates a list of filenames and inode numbers for the given file system. Names of directories are followed by a ‘.’. **ncheck\_ffs** may be invoked more simply as **ncheck**, with no change in behaviour.

The options are as follows:

- **-a**

  Print the file names ‘.’ and ‘..’, which are ordinarily skipped.

- **-f** *format*

  Use a custom output format when printing inode information. Characters from *format* are printed for each inode with the following escape sequences:

  - **\\a**

    Print a ⟨bell⟩ character.

  - **\\b**

    Print a ⟨backspace⟩ character.

  - **\\e**

    Print an ⟨escape⟩ character.

  - **\\f**

    Print a ⟨form-feed⟩ character.

  - **\\I**

    Print the inode number.

  - **\\n**

    Print a ⟨new-line⟩ character.

  - **\\P**

    Print the pathname to the file using the current inode number.

  - **\\r**

    Print a ⟨carriage return⟩ character.

  - **\\t**

    Print a ⟨tab⟩ character.

  - **\\v**

    Print a ⟨vertical tab⟩ character.

  - **\\'**

    Print a ⟨single quote⟩ character.

  - **\\\\**

    Print a backslash character.

  - **\\0**

    Print a NUL character.

    All other characters, when prefixed by a backslash, simply print the character following the backslash. The device name is not printed on the first line of output when the **-f** option is specified.

- **-i** *number* *...*

  Report only those files whose inode numbers are as listed.

- **-m**

  Give more verbose information on inodes.

- **-s**

  Report only special files and files with set-user-ID or set-group-ID set. This is meant to find hidden violations of security policies.

The report is not sorted.

## SEE ALSO

[sort(1)](/sort/1.md), [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md), [fsdb(8)](/fsdb/8.md)

## HISTORY

An **ncheck** command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX. The **ncheck\_ffs** command was designed to be similar in functionality to the corresponding command in SunOS 4.1.3.

## AUTHORS

Thorsten Lockert ⟨*tholo@sigmasoft.com*⟩