On August 12, 2003 01:36 pm, Steven Elling wrote: > If util-linux and/or the kernel were modified to get all the information on > the mounts in /proc/mounts, /etc/mtab would be unnecessary. And, if > /etc/mtab was needed by something, a symbolic link could be created for > backward compatibility. > > For other programs that write data to /etc, the Filesystem Hierarchy > Standard states that variable state information should be stored in > /var/lib. While I don't agree with some parts of the FHS, I do think > putting variable state information in /var/lib is a good idea. If all > run-time variable data and variable state information is stored as > described in the FHS, administrators can better safe-guard the integrity of > applications and data by mounting all file systems readonly --- except for > those that must be writable (/var, /home, etc.).
Excellent insight. This would further security and corruption precautions that Gentoo has begun by making /boot be a separate, normally unmounted partition. Keeping mtab in /etc is a gross violation of the FHS, and certainly could be (I would guess) be fixed reasonably at least within Linux proper. As to all Unices adopting this standard, I'll bet on my odds on winning the lottery first :) Regards, Brian -- Q: What is the difference between Texas and yogurt? A: Yogurt has culture.
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