[samba] using samba as unix network filesystem

[John H Terpstra]

On Sun, 1 Dec 2002, Max Vernimmen wrote:

> Hi guys (and girls),
>
> I came up with the idea to use samba to share files between 3 linux
> machines I administer. I've set it all up, it works. No problem.
>
> But.. Samba is by origin a windows filesharing application. Result: 2
> files with equal names but with different case, can not be stored in the
> same directory by samba.

Samba sees mail.txt and MaIl.TxT as the same file. It has to do this
because MS Windows clients treat them as the same file. MS Windows
NT/2K/XP/9X/Me are case preserving but not case sensitive.

> I've been trying to find a way around this, and thought I had found it
> with the "case sensitive" option, but unfortunately it is either
> defunct, or not working the way I thought it should (it preserves case
> allright, but I still can't store 2 equally names files with different
> case).
>
>
> So, my questions:
> - is what I want possible with samba

Samba treats all file/directory names are case insensitive. So the answer
is - NO!

Samba treats file and directory names that are the same but differing only
in case lexically. That is which ever name if lexically first inherits the
name. Now to make things interesting, what will be lexically first depends
on the locale settings (particulalry on Linux) and the sorting algorithm
used at the operating system level.

If you want case specific file name handling then Samba is NOT
for you. Then again, if MS Windows is your client you will NOT find any
alternative either. MS Windows is not case sensitive, and only at best is
it case preserving.

> If not
> - are the developers willing to add such a feature in the future?

Sure, if you can fix the problem in MS Windows first. Otherwise. no matter
what Samba can do your MS Windows client will not use it.

- John T.
-- 
John H Terpstra
Email: jht at samba.org