JelmerVernooij
AlexanderBokovoy
TimPotter
SimoSorce
John HTerpstra
Stackable VFS modules
Introduction and configuration
Since samba 3.0, samba supports stackable VFS(Virtual File System) modules.
Samba passes each request to access the unix file system thru the loaded VFS modules.
This chapter covers all the modules that come with the samba source and references to
some external modules.
You may have problems to compile these modules, as shared libraries are
compiled and linked in different ways on different systems.
They currently have been tested against GNU/linux and IRIX.
To use the VFS modules, create a share similar to the one below. The
important parameter is the vfs object parameter which must point to
the exact pathname of the shared library objects. For example, to log all access
to files and use a recycle bin:
[audit]
comment = Audited /data directory
path = /data
vfs object = /path/to/audit.so /path/to/recycle.so
writeable = yes
browseable = yes
The modules are used in the order they are specified.
Further documentation on writing VFS modules for Samba can be found in
the Samba Developers Guide.
Included modules
audit
A simple module to audit file access to the syslog
facility. The following operations are logged:
share
connect/disconnect
directory opens/create/remove
file open/close/rename/unlink/chmod
extd_audit
This module is identical with the audit module above except
that it sends audit logs to both syslog as well as the smbd log file/s. The
loglevel for this module is set in the smb.conf file. At loglevel = 0, only file
and directory deletions and directory and file creations are logged. At loglevel = 1
file opens are renames and permission changes are logged , while at loglevel = 2 file
open and close calls are logged also.
recycle
A recycle-bin like modules. When used any unlink call
will be intercepted and files moved to the recycle
directory instead of beeing deleted.
Supported options:
vfs_recycle_bin:repository
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:keeptree
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:versions
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:touch
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:maxsize
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:exclude
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:exclude_dir
FIXME
vfs_recycle_bin:noversions
FIXME
netatalk
A netatalk module, that will ease co-existence of samba and
netatalk file sharing services.
Advantages compared to the old netatalk module:
it doesn't care about creating of .AppleDouble forks, just keeps ones in sync
if share in smb.conf doesn't contain .AppleDouble item in hide or veto list, it will be added automatically
VFS modules available elsewhere
This section contains a listing of various other VFS modules that
have been posted but don't currently reside in the Samba CVS
tree for one reason ot another (e.g. it is easy for the maintainer
to have his or her own CVS tree).
No statemets about the stability or functionality any module
should be implied due to its presence here.
DatabaseFS
URL: http://www.css.tayloru.edu/~elorimer/databasefs/index.php
By Eric Lorimer.
I have created a VFS module which implements a fairly complete read-only
filesystem. It presents information from a database as a filesystem in
a modular and generic way to allow different databases to be used
(originally designed for organizing MP3s under directories such as
"Artists," "Song Keywords," etc... I have since applied it to a student
roster database very easily). The directory structure is stored in the
database itself and the module makes no assumptions about the database
structure beyond the table it requires to run.
Any feedback would be appreciated: comments, suggestions, patches,
etc... If nothing else, hopefully it might prove useful for someone
else who wishes to create a virtual filesystem.
vscan
URL: http://www.openantivirus.org/
samba-vscan is a proof-of-concept module for Samba, which
uses the VFS (virtual file system) features of Samba 2.2.x/3.0
alphaX. Of couse, Samba has to be compiled with VFS support.
samba-vscan supports various virus scanners and is maintained
by Rainer Link.