Re: the umount() saga for regular linux desktop users

From: Gene Heskett (gene.heskett_at_verizon.net)
Date: 12/31/04

  • Next message: William Park: "Re: /tmp as ramdisk"
    To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
    Date:	Fri, 31 Dec 2004 12:51:04 -0500
    
    

    On Friday 31 December 2004 12:41, William wrote:
    >Hi
    >
    >I am a linux desktop user. I love linux and all the wonderfull
    >open-source/free software that comes with it... blah, blah, blah :).
    > The following comments and suggestions about umount() stem from
    > personal experience and are meant as friendly feedback for all you
    > clever people. (I wish I understook how the kernel works)
    >
    >Regularly, when attempting to umount() a filesystem I receive
    > 'device is busy' errors. The only way (that I have found) to solve
    > these problems is to go on a journey into processland and kill all
    > the guilty ones that have tied themselves to the filesystem
    > concerned.
    >
    If you are running kernel.org kernels, the fix is to update to at
    least 2.6.10-ac1, where much of this malarkey, particularly with
    regard to samba, has been attended to.

    >In order to help solve this problem is it possible to modify the
    > behaviour of the linux kernel.
    >
    >In my opinion, in order for linux to be trully user friendly, "a
    > umount() should NEVER fail" (even if the device containing the
    > filesystem is no longuer attached to the system). The kernel should
    > do it's best to satisfy the umount request and cleanup. Maybe the
    > kernel could try some of the following:
    >
    >1) if the device containing the filesystem (for local filesystems)
    > is no longer physicaly attached to the system: revoke all process
    > access to the filesystem and umount. Notify umount that the
    > filesystem was not cleanly umounted.
    >
    >2) notify all processes attached to the filesystem that they must
    > release control of it.
    >
    >3) the processes may respond to the notifications and request time
    > to clean up in order to read/write any remaining data.
    >
    >4) processes that do not respond within a given time-frame should
    > have their filesystem access revoked.
    >
    >5) once all the clean up has finnished... umount the
    > filesystem.....
    >
    >I am not subscribed to the list so please email me on
    > wh@designed4u.net
    >
    >Kind Regards
    > William Heyland
    >
    >the new "a umount() should NEVER fail" campaign launched by me on
    > december the 31 of 2004. Just in time for new year ;-)
    >
    >PS: I am currently teaching myself about kernels in general and am
    > hoping to start contributing to linux soon. But until then... if
    > the kernel can't handle a umount() then nothing in userspace can do
    > any better... rant, rant, rant, ... make umount() smarter....
    > Please?
    >-
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    -- 
    Cheers, Gene
    "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
     soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
    -Ed Howdershelt (Author)
    99.31% setiathome rank, not too shabby for a WV hillbilly
    Yahoo.com attorneys please note, additions to this message
    by Gene Heskett are:
    Copyright 2004 by Maurice Eugene Heskett, all rights reserved.
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  • Next message: William Park: "Re: /tmp as ramdisk"

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