---
name: "wlock"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sendfile"
version: "2.1b.20080616-10"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wlock"
---

# wlock(1)

Tests or sets a file with POSIX-fcntl() write-locks

## NAME

wlock - Tests or sets a file with POSIX-fcntl() write-locks

## SYNOPSIS

**wlock** \[ **-s** \[**-a *seconds*** \]\] \[ **-t**\] \[ **-v**\] \[ **-b *begin*** \] \[ **-l *length*** \] *file*\
 or\
 **wlock** \[ **-s** \] \[ **-v**\] \[ **-b *begin*** \] \[ **-l *length*** \] *file program* \[ *arguments* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**This program sets or tests advisory locks conforming to POSIX fcntl()** call. You may specify optionaly a program to start it within the lock context.

## OPTIONS

These options are accepted.  If a program is provided as argument **wlock** will start it.

- **-s**

  Sets the lock.

- **-t**

  Test the lock (default).

- **-v**

  Verbose output.

- **-b** *begin*

  The lock starts at byte #*begin*.

- **-l** *length*

  The lock will be *length* bytes long.

- **-a** *seconds*

  The lock is active for *seconds* (default=86400).

## RETURN VALUES

- **0**

  In test mode this means that the file is locked.  In set mode it indicates the succesful creation of the lockfile

- **1**

  The file is not locked.  Only available in testmode.

- **2**

  Some error has occurred.

## AUTHOR

**wlock** has been written by Ulli Horlacher (framstag@belwue.de\>.

## SEE ALSO

[**sendfile**(1)](/sendfile/1.md).