Re: scanner interface proposal was: [TALPA] Intro to a linux interface for on access scanning (fwd)

[Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>]

On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 01:51:42 +0100
Enrico Weigelt <weigelt@metux.de> wrote:

> * Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk> wrote:
> > > Fine. Why not just putting this into a userland filesystem ?
> > 
> > 1. Performance
> 
> Does it really hurt so bad, compared with all actual AV stuff ?
> It has to go to userland anyway, in case you don't intend to 
> put the scanner into the kernel ;-o

That depends on the scanning and what you are using it for - at least
part of the interest is in asynchronous indexing systems in which case
the answer appears to be no, the scanner doesn't trash your performance.
> 
> > 2. Networked file systems
> 
> What's the problem ?
> (btw: 9P already *IS* an network filesystem ;-P)

Try 9P with an NFS backing store. Try a cluster file system.

> > 3. Ioctls
> 
> Ah, just forgot a while that this crap still exists ;-o
> 
> BUT: do the affected dirs have to contain devices ? 
> Is there any point for pulling /dev through the AV scanner ?

Lots of ioctls apply to files. Please think about what is involved rather
than just assuming.