linux-kernel - Re: what is necessary for directory hard links

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Date:	Sat, 22 Jul 2006 22:19:22 -0400
From:	"Horst H. von Brand" <vonbrand@....utfsm.cl>
To:	7eggert@....de
cc:	"Horst H. von Brand" <vonbrand@....utfsm.cl>,
	Joshua Hudson <joshudson@...il.com>,
	Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: what is necessary for directory hard links 

Bodo Eggert <7eggert@...tempel.de> wrote:
> Horst H. von Brand <vonbrand@....utfsm.cl> wrote:
> > Joshua Hudson <joshudson@...il.com> wrote:
> >> This patch is the sum total of all that I had to change in the kernel
> >> VFS layer to support hard links to directories

> > Can't be done, as it creates the possibility of loops.

> Don't do that then?

Stop /everything/ to make sure no concurrent activity creates a loop, while
checking the current mkdir(2) doesn't create one?

> > The "only files can
> > be hardlinked" idea makes garbage collection (== deleting of unreachable
> > objects) simple: Just check the number of references.
> > 
> > Detecting unconnected subgraphs uses a /lot/ of memory; and much worse, you
> > have to stop (almost) all filesystem activity while doing it.

> In order to disconnect a directory, you'd have to empty it first, and after
> emptying a directory, it won't be part of a loop. Maybe emtying is the
> problem ...

What does "emptying a directory" mean if there might be loops?

> This feature was implemented,

Never in my memory of any Unix (and lookalike) system in real use (I've
seen a few).

>                               and I asume it was removed for a reason.
> Can somebody remember?

See my objections.
-- 
Dr. Horst H. von Brand                   User #22616 counter.li.org
Departamento de Informatica                     Fono: +56 32 654431
Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria              +56 32 654239
Casilla 110-V, Valparaiso, Chile                Fax:  +56 32 797513
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