mirror of
https://github.com/falk-werner/webfuse
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76 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
76 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
[](https://github.com/falk-werner/webfuse/actions/workflows/build.yml)
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# webfuse
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webfuse combines libwebsockets and libfuse. It allows to attach a remote filesystem via websockets.
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## Motivation
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Many embedded devices, such as smart home or [IoT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things) devices are very limited regarding to their (non-volatile) memory resources. Such devices are typically comprised of an embedded linux and a small web server, providing an interface for maintenance purposes.
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Some use cases, such as firmware update, require to transfer (larger) files to the device. The firmware file is often stored multiple times on the device:
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1. cached by the web server, e.g. [lighttpd](https://redmine.lighttpd.net/boards/2/topics/3451)
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2. copied to locally, e.g. /tmp
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3. uncompressed, also to /tmp
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Techniques like [SquashFS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SquashFS) help to avoid the third step, since the upgrade file can be mounted directly. [RAUC](https://rauc.io/) shows the use of SquashFS within an update facility.
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However at least one (unecessary) copy of the upload file is needed on the device.
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To avoid Steps 1 and 2, it would be great to keep the update file entirely in web server, just like [NFS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_File_System) or [WebDAV](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/WebDAV). Unfortunately, NFS is not based on any protocol, natively usable by a web application. WebDAV is based on HTTP, but it needs a server providing the update file.
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webfuse solves this problem by using the [WebSocket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebSocket) protocol. The emdedded device runs a service, known as webfuse adapter, awaiting incoming connections, e.g. from a web browser. The browser acts as a file system provider, providing the update file to the device.
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## Concept
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With webfuse it is possible to implement remote filesystems based on websockets.
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Therefore, webfuse defined two roles participating in a webfuse connection:
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- webfuse service
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- webfuse provider
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### Webfuse Service
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A `webfuse service` is both,
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- a [websocket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebSocket) service providing the `webfuse` protocol
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- a [fuse](https://github.com/libfuse/libfuse) filesystem attached to a local mountpoint
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The `webfuse service` awaits incoming connections from a `webfuse provider`. Once connected, it communicates all the filesystem requests originated by the `libfuse` to the connected `webfuse provider` using the `websocket`-based `webfuse protocol`.
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By doing so, `webfuse` allows to inject a filesystem to a remote device.
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### Webfuse Provider
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A `webfuse provider` provides a filesystem to a remote device using the `websocket`-based `webfuse protocol`. Therefore, a `webfuse provider` implements a `websocket` client.
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## Similar Projects
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### Davfs2
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[davfs2](http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/davfs2) is a Linux file system driver that allows to mount a [WebDAV](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/WebDAV) resource. WebDAV is an extension to HTTP/1.1 that allows remote collaborative authoring of Web resources.
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Unlike webfuse, davfs2 mounts a remote filesystem locally, that is provided by a WebDAV server. In contrast, webfuse starts a server awaiting client connections to attach the remote file system.
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## Further Documentation
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- [Build instructions](doc/build.md)
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- [Webfuse command line options](webfuse.md)
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- [Webfuse provider command line options](webfuse_provider.md)
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- [Webfuse Protocol](doc/protocol.md)
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- [Authentication](authentication.md)
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## webfuse legacy
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`webfuse2` is a complete re-implementation of the original idea behind `webfuse`. In contrast to the original `webfuse` implementation, `webfuse2` provides also write access to the filesystem and allows to use all standard options of a fuse filesystem.
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But `webfuse2` marks also some breaking changes:
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- `webfuse2` uses a new, binary protocol which is not compatible to the JSON-based protocol of legacy `webfuse`
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- `webfuse` does not provide an API nor a library to program against
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_(if you are interested in an API or a library for webfuse2 feel free to create an issue)_
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When you are interested in the original `webfuse` implementation take a look at this [branch](https://github.com/falk-werner/webfuse/tree/master).
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