[comp.sys.ti.explorer] Virtual Hosts.

snicoud@ATC.BOEING.COM (Stephen Nicoud) (06/02/89)

FS:SET-LOGICAL-PATHNAME-HOST allows you to specify a logical host/directory which
translates to a physical host/directory.  This frees the developer/maintainer/user
from having to _know_ the host/directory where files reside and the syntax
required to get them.  Specifying logical directories is a natural extension to
this.

The utility of logical hosts/directories is evident when working in a
heterogeneous environment.  However, I find that the Explorer implementation of
FS:SET-LOGICAL-PATHNAME-HOST limiting because all files for a logical host can
_only_ reside on one physical host.  I'd like to be able to build myself a
"virtual" host which includes directories from several different hosts.  I'd also
like to be able to <merge> directories so that, say, my virtual directory "NICOUD"
includes certain files from my home directory on an Explorer, Sun, Vax, etc.

Now, before I spend time trying to implement that on my own, I'd like to know if
anyone has modified FS:SET-LOGICAL-PATHNAME-HOST to handle this.  If there is
sufficient interest, perhaps we can persuade TI to add this functionality to the
system.

What do you Explorer users think?  Would this sort of functionality be useful to
you?

Thanks for your feedback,

Steve Nicoud
<snicoud@atc.boeing.com>

rodney@ipl.rpi.edu (Rodney Peck II) (06/04/89)

This virtual filesystem sounds very useful.. I've been thinking about doing
the same thing for a long time.

Rodney