Hi there, i still have a weird problem with Powerpoint an Excel files stored on a Samba share.
Only read on if you -use a samba share as MULTI-user file repository (no force_user etc.) -where multiple, different users share files in common directories -the modification time of a file is of any relevance to you. (seems like lots of folks don�t bother access rights or keep their information strictly user-wise organised ...) Please look at the following example (Powerpoint 2000 and 2003 on Terminalserver and Standalone) Timestamp history (on Samba share, 2.2.8a RedHat Linux 9 with XFS 2.4.20-9SGI_XFS_1.2.0) File is initially created : Test.ppt mtime->12:40:05, ctime->12:40:05, atime->12:40:05 File is then "viewed" (open in Powerpoint and exit without changing/saving anything) by same user: after file is opened: Test.ppt mtime->12:40:05, ctime->12:40:05, atime->12:45:59 after file is closed: Test.ppt mtime->12:40:05, ctime->12:40:05, atime->12:45:59 Hmm, looks o.k. ! Now a different user "views" the file. (Different means, his username on the Options-dialog in any Office-Application is different.) Can be faked by simply changing username in options-dialog in Word e.g in the same session. while file is open: Test.ppt mtime->12:49:16, ctime->12:49:16, atime->12:49:16 oooops, looks like a new file ... after file is closed: Test.ppt mtime->12:49:16, ctime->12:49:16, atime->12:49:16 ... still looks new to me ! Now the same procedure again, same environment except the file is stored on a Windows2000 Workstation (with NT file system tunneling disabled) file create: size on disk: 8.192 bytes created 15:48:36 modified 15:48:36 accessed 15:48:36 "viewing" by the same "user" while file is open: size on disk: 8.192 bytes created 15:48:36 modified 15:48:36 accessed 15:48:36 file closed: size on disk: 8.192 bytes created 15:48:36 modified 15:48:36 accessed 15:48:36 O.K. that�s almost the same behavior that samba shows. (Except that on windows, the file doesn�t even look accessed) Now change the Office-options to a different user and open the file: While open: size on disk: 12.288 bytes created 15:48:36 modified 15:48:36 accessed 15:50:30 WOW! the file is bigger though it was not modified and is still the one created 15:48:36 Now exit Powerpoint: size on disk: 12.288 bytes created 15:48:36 modified 15:48:36 accessed 15:50:30 ... still the same. So on windows, the file seems now to be still the same version. (created 15:48:36 last modified 15:48:36). This is not true as Bits and Bytes are concerned but reflects the semantic of "open a file and exit without changing anything". On the Samba share, the file looks like "brand new information". I think that this makes a BIG difference on a shared filesystem where the modification time of a file serves as an indicator for the relevance of information. (Would you bother a file named "Hot_News" that was last modified 2 Years ago ? And would you like this file to become "really actual" by open it with the associated application and exit without saving/changing anything ?) I think, Powerpoint (and Excel at least) store the initial timestamp and explicitly change them after the file is closed without "relevant" changes. I suspect, the current user is written to the file so Powerpoint can announce: "File is currently opened by XYZ. Open it read-only?" or sth. like that. The application tries to hide this change by doing some "magic" on the timestamps. Question 1: Can somebody please confirm this behavior ? Question 2: a) Does anybody know how the timestamp is changed (File system API, System API, magic spell ...) and why this mechanism fails on Linux/Samba/XFS ? (dos_filetimes parameter already set to yes) b) How can this be debugged efficiently in Samba ? (Log level 3 delivers tons of data, sth. like NT_STATUS not supported ... What is the meaning of the errors ? How to isolate the relevant entries ?where to begin ?) Question 3: Is it possible to adjust samba to show the same behavior as NTFS ? Any help concerning this nasty "bug" is really appreciated. After some months of preparation for the "big move" from Windows to Samba fileserver, this effect is a real show-stopper as most of the users rely on the modification time for syncing information with Laptops, handhelds, project-lists and between each other. Frank Pospischil Leiter IT Telenet AG Rhein-Main Marburger Stra�e 14 64289 Darmstadt Germany Tel.: +49 6151 733-353 Fax.: +49 6151 733-325 Web: http://www.telenet-ag.de P.S.: Leser der deutschen Newsgroup de.comp.os.... m�gen mir bitte die englische Variante verzeihen. Ist doch ein bisschen aufw�ndig das nochmal in deutsch zu schreiben ... -- To unsubscribe from this list go to the following URL and read the instructions: http://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/samba
