Error Message with ls

When I try to list a directory that I have been using rsync to copy, I now am getting the following message.

root # ls -alt /directory
ls: /directory: Value too large to be stored in data type.
total 0

I can change directory and list the contents of directories within /directory, but I cannot list the contents of the root level of /directory

root # cd /directory
root # ls -alt
ls: .: Value too large to be stored in data type.
total 0

Anyone have any ideas what is going on here?

maybe the directory holds too many files for the internal buffer of ls.

Try "find . -type f -print | wc -l" to find out if that is the case.

bakunin

link:
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-gnu-utils/2004-04/msg00069.html

Awadhesh