Re: Linux 2.2.11pre2 proposed patch

Alexander Viro (viro@math.psu.edu)
Tue, 20 Jul 1999 14:40:05 -0400 (EDT)


On Tue, 20 Jul 1999, Craig Milo Rogers wrote:

> > You are dealing with inherently sucking filesystem. Sorry. There
> >is *no* out-of-directory metadata and thus there is no persistent inodes.
>
> If you are willing to accept the still-not-ideal constraint
> that the inode number stays constant so long as only Linux (or, in any
> case, another system employing the same algorithm) performs directory

D'oh! If only Linux does it - WTFPoint of using FAT? Exercise in
masochism?

> operations on the filesystem in questions, you might implement an
> auxiliary file that holds persistent inode mappings.

... and face additional shitload of races due to the fact that we have an
extra file to modify. And additional slowdown. Great.

> The natural place to put the inode map would be on the same
> underlying FAT filesystem, but for extra brownie points you could
> perhaps arrange for it to be located on a different filesystem. To
> protect against external meddling (e.g., renaming a file with
> Ms. Windows), the persistent inode map should contain checksums of
> the VFAT filesystem's underlying directory pages.

> This is piling cruft upon cruft, but it could be made to work
> under the given constraint. It could even be yet another layered
> filesystem (PVFAT?) in the towering FAT ensemble. Future generations
> will not thank you, though.

Me? No, sir. DIY if you want. I'll pass.

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