Re: XATTRs in NFS?

["Matt W. Benjamin" <matt@linuxbox.com>]

Hi,

Thanks, Bruce.

----- "J. Bruce Fields" <bfields@fieldses.org> wrote:
attributes, e.g., perhaps update
> atomicity.
> 
> Right, xattrs are expected to be small-ish and are set and queried
> atomically.  A server that implements named attributes using xattrs
> has
> to for example implement write as a read-modify-write of the
> attribute.

Ok, helpful.

> You normally only address xattrs by name, so I guess you'd have to
> stick
> a hash of the name in the filehandle.

That's how we're (re) implementing it for G.

> 
> We could probably get *something* working, but I don't know whether
> the
> semantics would be close enough to not break an application that was
> written to a named-attribute api.

I agree, there seems to be a missing piece.

> 
> Personally what I'd like to see is a really thorough description of a
> use case or two.  All I've ever heard is either "selinux", or some
> vague
> ideas about things people think might be cool to try.

I think the Christoph have made the best case that can be made, but I have
nothing more for the Linux debate.  I'd like to see us solve the design 
problems, though.

Matt

-- 
Matt Benjamin
The Linux Box
206 South Fifth Ave. Suite 150
Ann Arbor, MI  48104

http://linuxbox.com

tel.  734-761-4689 
fax.  734-769-8938 
cel.  734-216-5309