How would a new file named c.txt be created with the same inode number as a.txt (Inode 525385)?

Creating a new file with the same inode number as an existing file is achieved by creating a hard link to that file. A hard link allows multiple directory entries to reference the same inode, meaning that they share the same underlying file data on disk.

When the command ln a.txt c.txt is executed, it creates a hard link named c.txt that points to the same inode as a.txt. This results in both files sharing the same inode number (in this case, 525385). A key aspect of hard links is that they are indistinguishable from regular files in terms of file access—they are essentially just different names for the same file content.

Understanding how hard links work is essential since they provide a way to create multiple references (links) to the same data without duplicating it on disk. Thus, by using the correct command, the new file c.txt will effectively be a direct link to the same data as a.txt, both retaining the same inode number.