findid

findid is a command-line utility designed to search for files and directories based on their unique identifier, the inode number. Unlike standard file search tools that operate on file names or contents, findid leverages the underlying filesystem structure. Its primary purpose is to locate files when their name is unknown or has been lost, but their inode number is known. This can be particularly useful in system administration tasks, forensic analysis, or recovery operations where direct file name access might be compromised. The tool typically requires the inode number as an argument, along with the starting directory for the search. It then traverses the specified directory tree, comparing the inode number of each file and directory encountered with the target inode number. Upon finding a match, findid usually outputs the full path to the located file or directory. The efficiency of findid depends on the filesystem type and the depth of the directory structure being searched. While not as commonly used as name-based search tools, it serves a specialized but important function for identifying files based on their intrinsic filesystem identity.