Re: [PATCH] 2.6.23: Filesystem capabilities 0.17
From: Olaf Dietsche
Date: Fri Nov 02 2007 - 05:07:32 EST
Casey Schaufler <casey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> --- Olaf Dietsche <olaf+list.linux-kernel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> The bits are stored in a sparse file named /.capabilities in the
>> directory of the mount point, where the corresponding executable
>> lives. The inode number of the file is the index into this file.
>
> The old PlanG approach. It's the way that we did MAC labels in
> Trix4. It has the wicked advantage of working across NFS without
> anyone being the wiser.
If you don't trust a NFS, you'll mount it nosuid anyway and then
fscaps are disabled too.
> It really causes trouble for backup utilities, however.
Whatever implementation you choose, you will always have to modify
your backup utilities or copy the attributes separately.
> Trix6 (there wasn't really a Trix5) had xattrs
> available and we found the switch well worth the investment.
Extended attributes are a nice, clean concept, like micro kernels for
example :-). But they have a cost, which shouldn't be ignored.
Regards, Olaf.
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/