[comp.unix.ultrix] gnode mod time bug

mcm@rti.rti.org (Mike Mitchell) (03/15/91)

OK folks, here is a bug that has been around for awhile.  I've verified that
it is present in Ultrix 2.2, 3.1, and 4.1, on both Vaxes and DECstations.

The problem is that 'creat' (or 'open' with the creat option) will cause
the gnode modification time to be changed EVEN IF THE OPEN FAILS.
This sounds a little weird, but here is an example to try to explain.

    Script started on Thu Mar 14 13:48:01 1991
    #
    # mknod /tmp/buggy c 200 0
    # ls -l /tmp/buggy
    crw-rw-r--  1 root     200,   0 Mar 14 13:48 /tmp/buggy
    # sleep 60
    # cp /etc/motd /tmp/buggy
    cp: /tmp/buggy: No such device or address
    # ls -lm /tmp/buggy
    crw-rw-r--  1 root     200,   0 Mar 14 13:49 /tmp/buggy
    # ls -lc /tmp/buggy
    crw-rw-r--  1 root     200,   0 Mar 14 13:49 /tmp/buggy
    # ls -lu /tmp/buggy
    crw-rw-r--  1 root     200,   0 Mar 14 13:48 /tmp/buggy
    # rm -f /tmp/buggy
    #^D
    script done on Thu Mar 14 13:50:24 199

Notice that even though the copy failed, the 'ctime' and 'mtime' fields have
been changed, but not the 'atime'.  Here is a little script so you can
try this at home.  The script will have to be run as root, because only
root can 'mknod'.

    #! /bin/sh
    mknod /tmp/buggy c 200 0
    ls -l /tmp/buggy
    sleep 60
    cp /etc/motd /tmp/buggy
    ls -lm /tmp/buggy
    ls -lc /tmp/buggy
    ls -lu /tmp/buggy
    rm -f /tmp/buggy

Is there any hope that this bug will get fixed?  Is there anyone at DEC
really listening?  I'd type this in as an SPR, but I've lost my typewriter.
Besides, the last time I sent in an SPR, it took 2 months to get the orange
acknowledgement copy back, then another 3 1/2 months to get a letter saying
"Thank you for your problem report. ... The problem will be submitted to the
review board for possible inclusion in the next release."  It took almost
six months for a letter saying the bug MIGHT be fixed in the next release!
At least they did fix the bug in ULTRIX 4.0....

-- 
	Mike Mitchell					mcm@rti.rti.org
							uunet!rti!mcm
"There's laughter where I used to see a tear.		(919) 541-6098
 It's all done with mirrors, have no fear."