mapping [process|socket|...] to Filesystem

[Oliver Fromme]

Richard Kaestner <richard.kaestner at ycn.com> wrote:
 > the external device is a black box, communicates via ???-HTTP server.
 > 
 > The idea is:
 > - a (windows)user copies a file to a directory (say: .../commands/xyz),
 > - there is a "thing", that maps this file to some activity towards external
 >   box (similar to: procfs_doprocnote )
 > - as a response, a file appears in another file (.../response/data), 
 >   which can be read from (windows)client ( similar to: procfs_doproccmdline)
 > - the whole stuff should work diskless 
 > - response data can be from a few bytes up to several megabyte
 > 
 > 
 > - if I can manage, I could export this filesystem via samba _and_ nfs ...
 > 
 > - if it all was only about acces to the black box, it could be done via 
 > HTTP ... unfortunately, I have to deal with windows clients

It would be much easier to use HTTP instead of (ab)using
file system operations.  Just install an Apache web server
on your server machine and write a small CGI.  The Windows
clients can simply use a web browser to upload their data
to your CGI.  Then your CGI does whatever is necessary to
communicate with your black box, and sends the result back
to the client's web browser.

Best regards
   Oliver

-- 
Oliver Fromme,  secnetix GmbH & Co. KG, Marktplatz 29, 85567 Grafing
Dienstleistungen mit Schwerpunkt FreeBSD: http://www.secnetix.de/bsd
Any opinions expressed in this message may be personal to the author
and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of secnetix in any way.

C++: "an octopus made by nailing extra legs onto a dog"
        -- Steve Taylor, 1998