[linux-cifs-client] Re: Getting latest version of cifs

[Steven French]

> I have 2 servers as follows:
>
> 1. Linux Version: 2.6.7-1.494.2.2
>   gcc 3.3.3 20040412
>   mount.cifs: version 1.2
>
> 2. Linux Version: 2.6.8-1.521
>   gcc 3.3.3 20040412
>   mount.cifs: version 1.4
>
>I need to get these to the latest versions of cifs. Is
> this doable? 

Yes - two parts. 
The more important part is the kernel module cifs.ko This can 
be built without building the rest of the kernel.  We could 
probably build binary version of cifs.ko for some of the distros 
I only typically install/run SLES9, Fedora, RHEL betas and Knoppix 
and I have produced a back port of CIFS code to 2.6.8 (which is not too 
bad) 
back to 2.6.5 (which SLES is at) is a bit harder but I am working on it. 

Getting /sbin/mount cifs is pretty easy. For x86 version of many distros, 
the binary 
version on the cifs download of the current version of mount.cifs will 
work but this 
file is somewhat less important and much, much smaller, than cifs.ko. 

> And, since I don't know how to rebuild a
> kernel and I don't have access to anyone that does,
>can it be done without having to recompile the kernel?
>
>What would you advise?
> 

For the 2.6.8 based distro, I can build a cifs.ko for you to try at a 
similar version (remember to save the old version 
that you find in /lib/modules/2.6.8.../kernel/fs/cifs first !) if it is 
Intel - no guarantees 
but let me know if you want me to try to build one for you - alternatively 
if this is Fedora we might 
be able to get the Fedora maintainer to build it IIRC if I post the patch. 


> Thanks ofr the work you're doing on cifs.

You are welcome - I really need some additional test help now that cifs in 
2.6.10 passes most key functional and stress tests (with the exception of 
lock test 10, and some very minor ones) - and I am hoping that if I 
produce more patches against earlier versions that others can build 
debian, mandrake etc. and some of those that users want but I am not as 
familiar with - I have vmware but I have not figured out a way to make 
this less time consuming.   In addition we need more testing against Samba 
4, Apple servers, Netapp servers and other network appliances (most of my 
recent testing has been against samba 3.0.x and Windows XP and Windows 
2003 since I don't have a NetApp emulator and don't have test hardware for 
the other non-Samba based NAS vendors handy). 

Suggestions on automating the build and test process would be appreciated. 
  There is a big need now to take the LTP (Linux test project) - and 
create test scenarios that exec those in the testcases/kernel/fs and 
testcases/network/nfs and testcases/network/sendfile and merge them output 
into something that could be posted to the web. 

It is exciting progress that has been made in the past 6 months in cifs 
and in Samba so this could be a lot fun.



Steve French
Senior Software Engineer
Linux Technology Center - IBM Austin
phone: 512-838-2294
email: sfrench at-sign us dot ibm dot com
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