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How hard is it to open a file (edit)
Revision as of 23:42, 20 September 2016
, 23:42, 20 September 2016use source highlighting; fixes and improvements in English
Let's imagine we have an information about a file we want to open.
What should it contain? Apparently access mode and path
What should it contain? Apparently, access mode and path:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
struct file {
struct file {
char *path;
char *path;
unsigned mode;
unsigned mode;
} *f;
} *f;
</pre>
</source>
and we'd like to have that path being opened by a process. We would
and we'd like to have that path being opened by a process. We would
do it like below:
do it like below:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd;
int fd;
fd = open(f->path, f->mode);
fd = open(f->path, f->mode);
</pre>
</source>
Right? Right, but it's not all of it. We all know, that not only regular
files might be opened via paths, but also such things as FIFO-s. And
files might be opened via paths, but also such things as FIFOs. And
plain open with the flags we want it to have may just hang. So we need
plain <code>open()</code> with the flags we want it to have may just hang. So we need
to change that code to look like this:
to change that code to look like this:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd, tfd = -1;
int fd, tfd = -1;
if (tfd >= 0)
if (tfd >= 0)
close(tfd);
close(tfd);
</pre>
</source>
The tfd keeps FIFO read-write opened while we open it with any flags
The tfd keeps FIFO read-write opened while we open it with any flags
we want. Then we close it.
we want. Then we close it.
Now this seems to be OK, but it's actually not. In Linux file can be
Now this seems to be OK, but it's actually not. In Linux, file can be
unlinked while being opened (these [[invisible files]] are treated carefully
unlinked while being opened (these [[invisible files]] are treated carefully
on dump). In that case what was formerly pointed by
on dump). In that case what was formerly pointed by
path may be kept in some temporary location. And we have to create a
path may be kept in some temporary location. We have to create a
temporary name for it, and unlink it afterwards. So, we need to extend the
info about file
info about a file:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
struct file {
struct file {
char *path;
char *path;
char *temp_path;
char *temp_path;
} *f;
} *f;
</pre>
</source>
and the opening code to take care of that temorary location
and the opening code to take care of that temporary location
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd, tfd = -1;
int fd, tfd = -1;
if (f->temp_path)
if (f->temp_path)
unlink(f->path);
unlink(f->path);
</pre>
</source>
And we haven't seen all the code we need to manage what is pointed by
And we haven't seen all the code we need to manage what is pointed by
the temp_path, but let's proceed.
the <code>temp_path</code>, but let's proceed.
We have forgotten, that opened and unl^w removed can also be a
We have forgotten, that opened and <s>unlinked</s> removed can also be a
directory. On directories link and unlink do not work and we have to
directory. For directories, link and unlink do not work, and we have to
append the code to at least try to make things work OK:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd, tfd = -1;
int fd, tfd = -1;
unlink(f->path);
unlink(f->path);
}
}
</pre>
</source>
Done. But, we also should take care of hard links. If a file has such
Done. Oh wait, we also should take care of hard links! If a file has any,
and both were opened and removed, we cannot after opening just go
and both were opened and removed, we cannot just go
ahead and kill the temp_path -- it can be waiting for some other
ahead and kill the <code>temp_path</code> after opening, as
struct file to open one. A little bit more information should be added
it can be waiting for some other
to the struct file
<code>struct file</code> to open one. A little bit more information should be added
to the <code>struct file</code>.
<pre>
<source lang="C">
struct temp_file {
struct temp_file {
char *path;
char *path;
struct temp_file *temp;
struct temp_file *temp;
} *f;
} *f;
</pre>
</source>
and to the code that opens one now looks like this:
and to the code that opens one now looks like this:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd, tfd = -1;
int fd, tfd = -1;
}
}
}
}
</pre>
</source>
By the way, we've left behind the scenes all the code required to make
By the way, we've left behind the scenes all the code required to make
the temp_file data be shared between processes that need one and to
the <code>temp_file</code> data be shared between processes that need one and to
make the decrement of f->temp->users be smp-safe.
make the decrementing of <code>f->temp->users</code> be SMP-safe.
Also note, that we don't handle the case when the file/directory is
Also note, that we don't handle the case when the file/directory is
removed and some other file/directory is created under the same name.
removed and some other file/directory is created under the same name.
It's rare case.
It's a rare case.
Now, is that all? No, sorry. A couple of things left. First, Linux has
Now, is that all? No, sorry. A couple of things left. First, Linux has
info about what mount point the file belongs to like this:
info about what mount point the file belongs to like this:
<pre>
<source lang="C">
struct file {
struct file {
char *path;
char *path;
unsigned mnt_id;
unsigned mnt_id;
} *f;
} *f;
</pre>
</source>
and the code to open file would now look like
and the code to open file would now look like
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd, tfd = -1, ns_fd;
int fd, tfd = -1, ns_fd;
char *rel_path = f->path + 1;
char *rel_path = f->path + 1;
close(ns_fd);
close(ns_fd);
</pre>
</source>
Let me not dive into the details of how the open_ns_root looks like.
Let's not dive into the details of how the <code>open_ns_root</code> looks like.
Just know, that it opens a file descriptor, that refers to the root
Just know, that it opens a file descriptor, that refers to the root
of the mount namespace that contains a mount point with the id mnt_id
of the mount namespace that contains a mount point with the id <code>mnt_id</code>
(they cannot be shared, and that's great).
(they cannot be shared, and that's great).
First, opened files typically have a position. Flags we get need to be
First, opened files typically have a position. Flags we get need to be
sanitated not to container those that only make sense during open,
sanitated not to container those that only make sense during open,
like O_TRUNC or O_CREAT. And file may have a thing called fown managed
like <code>O_TRUNC</code> or <code>O_CREAT</code>. And file may have a thing called <code>fown</code> managed
by the F_SETSIG and F_SETOWN fcntls. All this results in
by the <code>F_SETSIG</code> and <code>F_SETOWN</code> fcntls. All this results in
<pre>
<source lang="C">
struct file {
struct file {
char *path;
char *path;
struct fown fown;
struct fown fown;
} *f;
} *f;
</pre>
</source>
and
and
<pre>
<source lang="C">
int fd, tfd = -1, ns_fd, open_flags;
int fd, tfd = -1, ns_fd, open_flags;
char *rel_path = f->path + 1;
char *rel_path = f->path + 1;
fcntl(fd, F_SETOWN, &f->fown->owner);
fcntl(fd, F_SETOWN, &f->fown->owner);
lseek(fd, SEEK_SET, f->pos);
lseek(fd, SEEK_SET, f->pos);
</pre>
</source>
And don't ask for details of the f->fown thing. It's tricky, but just
And don't ask for details of the <code>f->fown</code> thing. It's tricky, but just
follows the ABI and thus boring.
follows the ABI and therefore boring.
OK, we've finished with the top of the iceberg -- opening a file. Why
OK, we've finished with the top of the iceberg — opening a file. Why
top? Becase when opened file should be planted into a process' file
top? Becase when opened file should be planted into a process' file
descriptors table under desired number. You might thing, that it's as
descriptors table under desired number. You might think that it should be
simple as
as simple as:
<source lang="C">
<pre>
dup2(fd, desired_fd);
dup2(fd, desired_fd);
</pre>
</source>
but it's not. Here's [[how to assign needed file descriptor to a file]] :)
but it's not. Here's [[how to assign needed file descriptor to a file]].
[[Category:Under the hood]]
[[Category:Under the hood]]
[[Category:Files]]
[[Category:Files]]