Re: /proc/self/mountinfo versus chroot

[Karel Zak]

On Thu, Mar 03, 2016 at 10:19:56AM -0500, Rick Troth wrote:
> On 03/03/2016 03:51 AM, Ruediger Meier wrote:
> > FYI issues with /etc/mtab were also discussed recently on util-linux 
> > mailing list
> > http://www.spinics.net/lists/util-linux-ng/msg12386.html
> 
> Wow ... that brings up some painful recent memories. (Don't get me
> started about subvols.)
> 
> I can't fight the distributors, but the trend of sym-link /etc/mtab to
> /proc/mounts is annoying at best.
> Would have been better if they checked at boot time, "is it a plain
> file?", and go traditional for that case.

This is still supported (but no recommended) by mount(8) for
non-systemd distros.

> Easy enough to make it a sym-link at install time. Then the sysadmin can
> manually alter the behavior if he needs or wants.
> 
> Rendering a proper /etc/mtab is not rocket science.

The classic /etc/mtab maintained by userspace tools is non-sense on
system with unshared namespaces, move mount operation, bind mound
operation, btrfs, NFS, etc.

    Karel

-- 
 Karel Zak  <address@hidden>
 http://karelzak.blogspot.com