netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

[Carlos O'Donell]

netfilter,

Netfilter has header files with names that differ only in case [1].

e.g.

include/linux/netfilter_ipv4/ipt_MARK.h  
include/linux/netfilter_ipv4/ipt_mark.h

Such files conflict in a case-insensitive filesystem. This is a problem
for users building on Windows, or installing the headers on a Windows
case-insensitive filesystems.

The structures in the conflicting files seem to have unique names. Is it
possible to merge both files together? 

Comments welcome, please keep me on the CC.

Thanks!

Cheers,
Carlos.
-- 
Carlos O'Donell
CodeSourcery
carlos@codesourcery.com
(650) 331-3385 x716

[1] Netfilter has many files with names that differ only in case.

Re: netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

[Philip Craig]

On 05/24/2006 06:27 AM, Carlos O'Donell wrote:
> Such files conflict in a case-insensitive filesystem. This is a problem
> for users building on Windows, or installing the headers on a Windows
> case-insensitive filesystems.
> 
> The structures in the conflicting files seem to have unique names. Is it
> possible to merge both files together?

Depends what exactly you are trying to do.  If you are just trying to
build an application that uses them, then you could probably merge them;
have you tried?  Building the kernel would require more work.

Re: netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

[Carlos O'Donell]

On Thu, Jun 01, 2006 at 03:40:25PM +1000, Philip Craig wrote:
> On 05/24/2006 06:27 AM, Carlos O'Donell wrote:
> > Such files conflict in a case-insensitive filesystem. This is a problem
> > for users building on Windows, or installing the headers on a Windows
> > case-insensitive filesystems.
> > 
> > The structures in the conflicting files seem to have unique names. Is it
> > possible to merge both files together?
> 
> Depends what exactly you are trying to do.  If you are just trying to
> build an application that uses them, then you could probably merge them;
> have you tried?  Building the kernel would require more work.
> 

I have not tried merging the headers. I was deffering to the experts to
get an opinion :)

The current goal is to be able to ship the headers for use in an
environment which resides on a case-insenstive filesystem.

If we did the work, would the community accept such patches?

Cheers,
Carlos.
-- 
Carlos O'Donell
CodeSourcery
carlos@codesourcery.com
(650) 331-3385 x716

Re: netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

[Philip Craig]

On 06/02/2006 01:45 AM, Carlos O'Donell wrote:
> The current goal is to be able to ship the headers for use in an
> environment which resides on a case-insenstive filesystem.
> 
> If we did the work, would the community accept such patches?

I'm not a core developer, but I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

It's not just the header files.  The source files and modules
also do this, and changing any of these breaks userspace
compatibility.

Re: netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

[Jozsef Kadlecsik]

On Thu, 1 Jun 2006, Carlos O'Donell wrote:

> On Thu, Jun 01, 2006 at 03:40:25PM +1000, Philip Craig wrote:
> > On 05/24/2006 06:27 AM, Carlos O'Donell wrote:
> > > Such files conflict in a case-insensitive filesystem. This is a problem
> > > for users building on Windows, or installing the headers on a Windows
> > > case-insensitive filesystems.
> > >
> > > The structures in the conflicting files seem to have unique names. Is it
> > > possible to merge both files together?
> >
> > Depends what exactly you are trying to do.  If you are just trying to
> > build an application that uses them, then you could probably merge them;
> > have you tried?  Building the kernel would require more work.
>
> I have not tried merging the headers. I was deffering to the experts to
> get an opinion :)
>
> The current goal is to be able to ship the headers for use in an
> environment which resides on a case-insenstive filesystem.

But why would it be useful? If someone develops netfilter kernel
modules/iptables extension in a Windows environment, he is unable to test
it. What is the point?

> If we did the work, would the community accept such patches?

You should not only have to merge the header files, but the source files
as well.  And develop another method to autoload kernel modules and
iptables extensions when required - matches and targets. And even when all
is done, I personally would be extremely reluctant to accept such patches
until I'm not convinced why it's absolutely required.

Best regards,
Jozsef
-
E-mail  : kadlec@blackhole.kfki.hu, kadlec@sunserv.kfki.hu
PGP key : http://www.kfki.hu/~kadlec/pgp_public_key.txt
Address : KFKI Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics
          H-1525 Budapest 114, POB. 49, Hungary

Re: netfilter files in a case-insensitive filesystem

[Carlos O'Donell]

On Fri, Jun 02, 2006 at 05:24:45PM +0200, Jozsef Kadlecsik wrote:
> > The current goal is to be able to ship the headers for use in an
> > environment which resides on a case-insenstive filesystem.
> 
> But why would it be useful? If someone develops netfilter kernel
> modules/iptables extension in a Windows environment, he is unable to test
> it. What is the point?

Target embedded devices attached via serial or usb?
 
> > If we did the work, would the community accept such patches?
> 
> You should not only have to merge the header files, but the source files
> as well.  And develop another method to autoload kernel modules and
> iptables extensions when required - matches and targets. And even when all
> is done, I personally would be extremely reluctant to accept such patches
> until I'm not convinced why it's absolutely required.

Thank you for your an initial evaluation of the required work.

Cheers,
Carlos.
-- 
Carlos O'Donell
CodeSourcery
carlos@codesourcery.com
(650) 331-3385 x716