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Re: FHS & /cdrom



On Wed, Mar 31, 1999 at 11:46:54AM +0200, Walter Harms wrote:
> there are complains that the FHS is not specific about /cdrom and friends.
> may this here can help (from 3. The root directory ;page 7):
> " ... introducing a new subdirectory of the root filesystem is prohibited"

From section 3: The Root Directory
] Software should never create or require special files or
] subdirectories in the root directory.

followed by what I presume is the source of the above quote:

] BEGIN RATIONALE
]    
]  There are several reasons why introducing a new subdirectory of the
]  root filesystem is prohibited:
]     * It demands space on a root partition which the system
]       administrator may want kept small and simple for either
]       performance or security reasons.
]     * It evades whatever discipline the system administrator may have
]       set up for distributing standard file hierarchies across mountable
]       volumes.
]
] END RATIONALE

Which seems to mean that *third-party* software has no business depending
on /cdrom, or /floppy, or /lawnmower. The vendor, and the sysadmin,
however seem to be able to do what they like.

From section 3.7: /mnt
] This directory is provided so that the system administrator may
] temporarily mount filesystems as needed. The content of this directory
] is a local issue and should not affect the manner in which any program
] is run.

Which seems to mean that third-party software also has no business depending
on /mnt/cdrom, /mnt/floppy or /mnt/lawnmower.

It would probably be nice to have the LSB specification document standard
places that vendors and sysadmins put such directories, but otherwise
I still don't see how it's an issue for standardisation.

And wrt the original poster's point, and Apt having a hardcoded "/cdrom"
for the cdrom-method: you can add something like:

	Acquire::cdrom::mount "/mnt/cdrom";

to /etc/apt/apt.conf to change the default.

Cheers,
aj

-- 
Anthony Towns <aj@humbug.org.au> <http://azure.humbug.org.au/~aj/>
I don't speak for anyone save myself. PGP encrypted mail preferred.

``Like the ski resort of girls looking for husbands and husbands looking
  for girls, the situation is not as symmetrical as it might seem.''

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