[mdlug] smbmount and links

[Tony Bemus]

On Thu, 2008-10-09 at 09:40 -0400, Robert Meier wrote:
> Tony,
> 
> > I am mounting a smb share that has a link in it that goes to another
> > folder.  my computer is trying to follow the link to the location on my
> > computer not the smb computer file system.
> 
> Is the link in question a windows "shortcut"?
>   or an actual link (= file with string and type l)?

it is a symbolic link ln -s

> 
> What is the smb computer file system? [NTFS] [VFAT]

The filesystem is ext3

> 
> How is the smb share mounted (e.g. what does /proc/mounts report)?

I have added this line to my .bashrc file
	smbmount //192.168.5.252/public ~/linuxmce 

> 
> What is the "link" value?

tony at bemus-tony:~/linuxmce/videos$ ls -l
... (cut to important part) ...
lrwxrwxrwx 1 tony tony         33 2008-09-23 22:10 ST3250820AS
(sdb1)-CORE [31] -> /mnt/device/31/public/data/videos
lrwxrwxrwx 1 tony tony         33 2008-09-23 22:10 ST3500630AS
(sda1)-CORE [30] -> /mnt/device/30/public/data/videos

> 
> > Does anyone know if it is [possible] to get it to [follow] the links?
> 
> I suspect not, a computer only has direct access to that information which
> is attached to it (i.e. mounted).  Indirect access (e.g. nfs, smb, ...)
> operates as a daemon (eternal program) that (per prior agreement)
> asks the remote computer to send a copy (for local direct access)
> or asks the remote computer to make changes (on data directly attached to
> the remote computer).  Your local computer cannot follow a link nor shortcut
> to a remote file without the support and prior consent of the remote
> computer.
> 
> I suspect you need to mount the shares (i.e. get prior agreement)
> that correspond to the linked files.
> 
> 
> 
> Imagine each computer as an automated warehouse for a chain of stores
> selling shop-by-mail catalogs (directories).  Each warehouse (computer)
> automatically sends copies of its own catalog (via smb share).
> Your local warehouse will satisfy any request from its local catalog
> (mounted locally).  For things seen in remote warehouse catalogs (smb shares)
> your local computer can submit the request to the remote warehouse,
> but without prior (payment?) agreement, the remote warehouse will not
> satisfy the request.
> 
> Hopefully helpful,