I notice access times are only updated once per "session" these days. $ echo x>y $ stat y Access: 2009-12-17 08:27:56.971374872 +0800 $ cat y $ stat y Access: 2009-12-17 08:28:08.171376619 +0800 $ cat y $ stat y Access: 2009-12-17 08:28:08.171376619 +0800 mount(8) doesn't show "noatime". linux 2.6.31-1-686