[Samba] vfs module license particulars

[Jeremy Allison]

On Thu, Aug 11, 2005 at 01:15:01AM -0700, Jeremy Drake wrote:
> >From what I have been able to piece together from the archives of prior
> discussions on this topic, it appears that one cannot write a proprietary
> vfs module, correct?
> 
> If that is true, how far does the non-proprietary nature need to extend?
> For instance, would it be allowed to write a vfs module which talks to
> Oracle to get the data which backs the filesystem rather than an actual
> filesystem?  Even if it involves linking against Oracle's
> proprietary OCI library for calls into the database?
> 
> Quoting from a message from the archives which I found in my searches
> (http://lists.samba.org/archive/samba-technical/2002-February/019881.html):
> 
> "For example, a vfs plugin that links to Oracle as a backend would
> be GPL, but Oracle itself would not come under the GPL. This is
> because Oracle is a program that is of itself functional without
> Samba."
> 
> Say I work for a company, and I wish to write a vfs driver which
> interfaces with the company's proprietary product.  What would be a
> reasonably efficient mechanism to do this while not violating any license
> terms for samba?  Would this be writing a GPL vfs module which calls into
> the company's proprietary libraries?  This would seem to be the case if
> writing an Oracle vfs client is allowed, since the only mechanism for
> calling into Oracle from C is, AFAIK, via OCI, which is a proprietary
> library (either directly or indirectly, such as through ODBC).
> 
> Another clarification which I believe would be beneficial to the
> community would be, do vfs modules have to be GPL and only GPL, or could
> they be instead some other OSI-approved license?
> 
> Thanks for any clarification you can provide, and I hope I don't trigger
> some sort of licensing holy war on the list ;)

If you want to link to proprietary code from a Samba VFS you need to
talk to a lawyer. No other advice will do. It's a very dicey thing to
do and most ways of doing it will not be legal. Seek legal advice from
your company.

Jeremy.