NAME

fs - host file system interface

SYNOPSIS

bind #Uspec /

sys->bind("#Uspec", "/", Sys->MAFTER|Sys->MCREATE);

DESCRIPTION

Fs provides an interface to the host file system when running emu(1). The device is automatically bound to the root of the Inferno namespace when emu starts. Fs maps filenames from the Inferno namespace to the real host filesystem namespace. The mapping is determined by the host system directory that emu serves (see the description of the -r option in emu(1)).

The plain name #U always refers to the root of the Inferno tree within the host file system. An optional spec string can select a different tree using conventions peculiar to the host system type. Currently, on Unix and Plan 9, a spec of * (ie, #U*) refers to the root of the host system; on Windows, the spec can give a device letter (eg, #Uc:) to refer to the Windows tree on that device.

When there is nothing but root(3) in the name space, the device can only be bound from Limbo using sys-bind(2) as shown above, since there is nothing in the name space to support either bind(1) or newns(2). It can later be rebound elsewhere in the name space using bind(1).

Fs provides only an approximation to the file ownership and permissions checking defined in intro(5) and other entries in this manual. Emu(1) typically runs as the user that starts it, and that user will own all newly-created files and directories, and that user's host system access rights control access to any file. Other details are specific to the host system, as given below.

The set of characters visible in file names within fs is also determined by the host operating system, not Inferno. For instance, names might contain control characters, or even `/', which might render them unusable in Inferno.

Unix

When checking owner, group and other permissions, the intent in Inferno is that each is tried in turn, in that order. Unix checks just the first that applies, so that if group permission disallows access but other allows it, the access is still denied. If emu(1) is run as the super-user, Inferno's rules for ownership and permission checking are enforced by fs itself; otherwise, Unix's permission checking prevails.

On MacOS X, file names might be case insensitive, depending on file system settings.

FAT file system (Windows9x and Windows/NT)

The values of uid and gid are Everyone.

Files and directories always have read and execute permission, which cannot be changed. Files without write permission cannot be removed.

NTFS file system (Windows/NT, 2000, XP)

Permissions for read, write and execute operates as described in sys-stat(2). Emu(1) attempts to maintain a limited but consistent map between Inferno and NT worlds, specifically between Inferno names and NT security IDs. Special NT group Everyone represents `other' for file permissions. The Inferno uid is the file owner under NT; the Inferno gid reported is the first user in the file's ACL that is neither the owner nor Everyone; failing that, the gid is the file's owner.

SOURCE

/emu/*/devfs.c
/emu/port/devfs-posix.c

fs(3)

Rev:  Tue Mar 31 02:42:38 GMT 2015