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exFAT in the Linux kernel

cloudblogs.microsoft.com

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Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#3

Post by hnarn »

I don't mean for this question to sound inflammatory but I can't help but think: why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE, and as pointed out by VentureBeat:

> To be clear, Microsoft isn’t open-sourcing exFAT — but it is making sure anyone building with Linux can use it. 'It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence.'

exFAT is still not open source, and still can't be distributed with the kernel. So what changed? It will now be easier to integrate it into a custom kernel instead of using FUSE? Why is this better than the current situation, where you'd install exfat-utils for example? Are there benefits of using a kernel module that I'm missing which makes this important news?

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#4

Post by jdsully »

The big deal here is the patent grant. FAT related patents were held over linux like a gun in the Ballmer years. Its a reason Linux was stuck with 8.3 length filenames for so long.

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#5

Post by vengefulduck »

hnarn wrote: post #3

I don't mean for this question to sound inflammatory but I can't help but think: why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE, and as pointed out by VentureBeat: > To be clear, Microsoft isn’t open-sourcing exFAT — but it is making sure anyone building with Linux can use it. 'It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence.' exFAT i…

But they can put their own implementation of exfat inside the kernel now without worrying about patents, which is what previously prevented it from being included. I will also help that they will have an official spec to go off of now, so they won’t have to waste time with reverse engineering (plus the legal concerns that comes with that).

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#6

Post by 8K832d7tNmiQ »

hnarn wrote: post #3

I don't mean for this question to sound inflammatory but I can't help but think: why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE, and as pointed out by VentureBeat: > To be clear, Microsoft isn’t open-sourcing exFAT — but it is making sure anyone building with Linux can use it. 'It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence.' exFAT i…

legality and implementation straight on linux kernel would be the first thing I'd say.

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#7

Post by gvb »

hnarn wrote: post #3

I don't mean for this question to sound inflammatory but I can't help but think: why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE, and as pointed out by VentureBeat: > To be clear, Microsoft isn’t open-sourcing exFAT — but it is making sure anyone building with Linux can use it. 'It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence.' exFAT i…

According to John Gossman "Microsoft Distinguished Engineer & Linux Foundation Board Member" in a related announcement, Microsoft plans to contribute it to the Linux kernel:

We also support the eventual inclusion of a Linux kernel with exFAT support in a future revision of the Open Invention Network’s Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit from the defensive patent commitments of OIN’s 3040+ members and licensees.

Still some patent squirrelly words (they imply you have to sign a patent cross licensing agreement with the OIN - not sure of the implications) and no timeline.

Ref: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/08/28/exfat...

OIN Ref: https://www.openinventionnetwork.com/joining-oin/

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#8

Post by jaclaz »

The IMHO extremely relevant point is in the very end of the actual specifications:

https://docs.microsoft.com/it-it/windows/win32/fileio/exfat-...

>26-Aug-2019 Seventh release of the Basic Specification, which includes the following changes:

Updated legal terms pertaining to the specification, including:

Removal of Microsoft Confidential notice

Removal of Microsoft Corporation Technical Documentation License Agreement section

Updated copyright notice to 2019

Till now the documentation wasn't AFAIK publicly available or it was anyway "restricted".

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#9

Post by garaetjjte »

hnarn wrote: post #3

I don't mean for this question to sound inflammatory but I can't help but think: why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE, and as pointed out by VentureBeat: > To be clear, Microsoft isn’t open-sourcing exFAT — but it is making sure anyone building with Linux can use it. 'It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence.' exFAT i…

FUSE is very slow compared to kernel module.

Re: exFAT in the Linux kernel

#10

Post by cesarb »

hnarn wrote: post #3

I don't mean for this question to sound inflammatory but I can't help but think: why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE, and as pointed out by VentureBeat: > To be clear, Microsoft isn’t open-sourcing exFAT — but it is making sure anyone building with Linux can use it. 'It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence.' exFAT i…

> why does this matter? You can already use exFAT on Linux via FUSE

It means that exFAT will be available everywhere. For instance, right now if you want exFAT support on Fedora or RHEL, you have to enable rpmfusion and install fuse-exfat and exfat-utils from there; once it's in the upstream kernel, it will be available on a default install.

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