Some reload problems.

[Stef Bon <stef@bononline.nl>]

Hello,

I'm working on a construction which makes it able for ordinary users to 
browse (and mount) the network over
different services like SSH and SMB.

It creates a networkmap in the homedirectory:

/home/sbon/Global Network

for example.

Now this contruction creates and uses a temporarly master map in 
/var/run/autofs:

/var/run/autofs.master

which in my single user case looks like:

/home/sbon/Global\ Network     /etc/autofs/session/auto.network.sbon -browse

The map is in /var/run, because it only contains runtime data.
The line is added by a script run by KDM, when my session starts.
(and removed by another script run by KDM, when a sessions ends)

Now I'v added this "networkrelated/usersession auto.master" to the 
"main" auto.master:

#
# other mountpoints and maps here....
#
+/var/run/autofs/auto.master


Now, there is an (I think reasonable) assumption:
- when the automount daemon is not started at boottime, the creation of 
the networkfolders should not be done
(this construction does not start it, it should already be running)
- the daemon will start and continu running with an empty master map
- a reload hasn't much consequences for existing trees.

But what is necessary, is that after any change in the 
/var/run/autofs/auto.master file, the daemon should get a reload.

Now my experience is that the first issue is ok. There is even a patch 
for it. (I'm using version 5.0.3)
The daemon starts, even with an empty auto.master file (and an empty 
/var/run/autofs/auto.master).

It's also ok when a line is added. But there are some problems when 
stopping.
When stopping a session (by logging out), the line in 
/var/run/autofs/auto.master is removed and the
daemon gets a reload. Now, when there are no other lines here, and there 
also no other mountpoints in the main mastermap, the daemon stops.

To avoid this problem, I've added valid mountpoint to the main 
mastermap, and this problem did not occur anymore.
But, what remained is that the top level directory of a unused 
"browseable network tree" was removed after a reload. I have to avtivate 
it again.

Let me explain: my construction supports two services at this moment: 
SSH and SMB.
When I login, both are activated by a litlle script which does:

ls -A "/home/sbon/Global Network/Windows Network" and
ls -A "/home/sbon/Global Network/SSH hosts"

Now I can browse the network. (I've discussed this earlier..)

The /var/run/autofs/auto.master file has two lines, one for me and one 
for root.
There are smb shares for me (sbon) mounted, so there are active mounts. 
No ssh host is mounted
for sbon.
When root is logging out, the  line with for root is removed, and the 
daemon gets a reload.
The result is that the Windows Network does still exist in 
"/home/sbon/Global Network", but "SSH hosts" not
anymore, which should not be the case.

I hope you're able to understand the situation.

Stef Bon