mtime values

mtime is a standard file attribute that represents the time when the file was last modified.

The -E parameter controls when the mtime is updated. The default is -E yes, which results in standard interfaces including the stat() and fstat() calls reporting exact mtime values. Specifying -E no results in the stat() and fstat() calls reporting the mtime value available at the completion of the last sync period. This may result in the calls not always reporting the exact mtime. Setting -E no can affect backup operations, AFM, and AFM DR functions that rely on the last modified time or the operation of policies using the MODIFICATION_TIME file attribute.

For more information, see Exceptions to Open Group technical standards.