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From: trt@rti.rti.org (Thomas Truscott)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: Why /etc/mtab? (was: Example modification of /etc/mtab wanted)
Summary: /etc/mtab is a historical wart, perpetuated through laziness
Message-ID: <3877@rtifs1.UUCP>
Date: 1 Jun 90 03:08:05 GMT
References: <1678@trlluna.trl.oz> <1918@aurora.cs.athabascau.ca>
Organization: Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC
Lines: 12

> 	Why does Unix use a file to store mount information?

Because it did 90% of the job with 10% of the effort.

Ultrix replaced /etc/mtab with the "getmnt" system call
which has lots of strange parameters.

Much simpler would be to have a "/dev/mtab" special device
which works like "/dev/mem" but only accesses the kernel mount table.
Similarly one might have "/dev/proc".
Just more minor numbers for the basic /dev/mem driver.
	Tom Truscott