[oclug] New MS File System...

[farrellj]

Greetings!

	I just came across the following story on CNET...

http://news.com.com/2009-1017-857509.html

	It basically describes the new "file system" that Microsoft is going
to put into Windows...basically it is a database format based upon their SQL
server. Now, at their base, all file systems are some form of database...but
as anyone who has had to deal with MS's current disk format, it is
compromise after compromise. NTFS is better, since it is based upon OS/2's
HPFS. It's good, but we have much better technology today. And since it is
not Microsoft's alone, it has always be a pariah in the MS Camp. So it makes
sense for MS to build something new...but a SQL database? Think of the
overhead this is going to add to the system. Add to that, what happens if
the database is crashed...or the power goes out. Anyone who has been
involved with Database recovery knows the pain it is to try and recover a
corrupted database. Especially when there is going to be such a variety of
different datatypes. Many times it takes exporting the data out of the
database and using another tool to re-messauge the data back into shape. But
if they do the standard things to make it more secure like checkpointing, or
keeping a mirrored database...it means your overhead and disk space are
going to shoot up dramatically! Those are some of the technical reasons it
is not a good idea. But technial problems can be solved...eventually,
someday...

	But why is MS really doing this? Because the VFat system is a kludge
upon a klugde upon a kludge?

	No. Microsoft doesn't fix mistakes, it makes them the standard!

	What it *is* going to do is make the disk format so propriatory that
even if WINE can run all MS applications, it will no be able to handle the
disk-format! And they're going to build rights management into that database
disk format, so if you try and fake out applications to run on other disk
formats, they will lock up and refuse to do so. And if you try and reverse
engineer that disk format or system calls, they will DMCA you do death,
claiming it is a way to protect the rights of the "artists and programmers"
to prevent piracy. Of course, the fact that it will also help to propagate
and perpetuate MS's Illegal Monopoly is almost the most important thing
about this new disk format. And that is the real reason to push to prevent
Microsoft from using this format. There will be no way to legally, in the
US, and maybe Europe and Canada, to  reverse-engineer this format...and if
it does get reverse-engineered, it will be hunted down in a manner worse
than the DeCSS software is today. And I don't like the idea of Microsoft's
jackboots trampling the human rights of people world wide in quest of saving
it's monopoly. And that is what will happen. Mark my words.

ttyl
     Farrell McGovern
     Amateur Futurist & Anthropologist