Mail Archives: opendos/1997/08/28/19:37:43
I've been looking at the linux code for accessing (v)fat dos
partitions; until long filenames (and the extra time information that
came at the same time), it was relatively easy to modify Linux to
support permissions flags, groups ID's,m and user ID's (and, sort of,
passwords) in a way that is compatible with OpenDOS (well, really
Multiuser DRDOS).
The problem now is that the password field could contain just about
anything, depending on the extra time information Win95 stores there.
It is easy enough to use the creation (not last write) date field to
test if the password & permissions fields should be used as DRDOS has
used them for years. Non-zero creation dates imply either Win95 has
written this directory entry or somebody is using Group ID's (not used
in single-user DRDOS, Novell DOS, OpenDOS, except there was a system
call that a user program could have used I seem to remember). Possibly
using one of the fields straight after the file attributes would be a
better choice.
What I'd like to see is:
(a) Linux being able to store some information (like permissions, userid)
in fat partitions,
(b) OpenDOS able to use partitions/diskettes written by Win95 without
it thinking files are password protected when they aren't,
(c) OpenDOS and Linux working better together, at least as file attributes
are concerned.
I appreciate that the ultimate solution is a new filesystem for OpenDOS, but
we should be able to make better use of the present situation where a mixture
of any two or more of Linux, OpenDOS/DRDOS, Win95 and maybe OS/2 are involved.
What do others think is the best way to "adjust" OpenDOS's pasword protection
system (something I'd hate to lose) to avoid conflicts with Win95??
Also, is anybody interested in helping modify the Linux fat support software,
e.g. by creating an alternative to vfat that is "universal" in adapting to
either legacy PCDOS (special fields ignored), or DRDOS/OpenDOS (UID, GID,
MDRDOS-like permissions and some mapping of passwords), or Win95 (creation date,
last access date, etc).
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Mark Aitchison, Physics & Astronomy \_ Phone : +64 3 3642-947 a.h. 3371-225
University of Canterbury, </ Fax : +64 3 3642-469 or 3642-999
Christchurch, New Zealand. /) E-mail: phys169 AT csc DOT canterbury DOT ac DOT nz
#include <disclaimer.std> (/' Callsign: ZL3TQE
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