PHP file management that can manage hardlinks?

[systemonkey]

I have a lot of huge files on a server and I can't risk getting deleted by anyone. What I have been doing is I create a ftp account for users and create a hardlinks to the original file in case anyone needs access to it. The library has been growing and I would like to know if there is a simpler way of creating hardlinks through PHP and able to manage multiple hardlinks similar to other "file management systems". Can someone point me to right direction?

Thank you.

[ronverdonk]

Do you mean that you are looking for some 'directory-list' structure with clickable file links?

Ronald