site_archiver@lists.apple.com Delivered-To: darwin-kernel@lists.apple.com Dkim-signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20230601; t=1755291986; x=1755896786; darn=lists.apple.com; h=content-transfer-encoding:cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from :in-reply-to:references:mime-version:from:to:cc:subject:date :message-id:reply-to; bh=WttQKj7Ru0OnGeLKpOIJEd3fo96eFKcZ/P11zKJvVvE=; b=Q5RwVRWWd6JPmzwpUFhHZXT8Q2RlbZt7ikTcMk8UElbbLyGWZ94wFYjyH317xuSwEz qErlybYLJaOAVZ8+W9o6WlSDeAkmkpPMK5CRYCuCdvehNxfllyuMF4PIchAvHPG9ECCc P2+mqPS0Fp7ZHiuA77gszSPvMnrTtz59yl7KLT4bh9ZGShknaflGpWMGAc7tryHM6zGG Q1j7ei20D0EV9fgYBxIXQc+gv7GNYvvvPrTZ+CLfI6xaf+8IJ1X/DkKKNbZUZKB2BtMV 8McOHpMpzP/z1+Pv6Saoe+bdEzAUlwFFmN/XOerSipYkrRpXlSmbjri67TlI51/GbN6r P3gg== On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM Ken Hornstein <kenh@cmf.nrl.navy.mil> wrote:

...

Anyhow, since NFSv4.1/4.2 is finally maturing and Apple has not updated their client, I was thinking of getting back in the game. However, if I cannot build a kext, there isn't much point, since source patches against the kernel won't interest anyone. (I would put the sources up somewhere like github.)

Which brings me to the big question... If I find a suitable laptop, can I build a kext that will install/work as a file system?

I am aware of at least one commerical network filesystem that ships for MacOS X (Auristor/YFS) and I know it has a kext. However ... my LIMITED understanding is that in modern MacOS X what you can do in a kext is limited and you need to use the kext to call out to userspace to do the heavy lifting. So, it's certainly possible, but the details are going to be a bit hairy and are not something I have been keeping track of recently. Also, you have to run through a bunch of hoops on MacOS X to (a) enable a kext (especially on an Apple Silicon system) and (b) get the right magic to digitally sign a kext (the latter piece was not hard, from my memory, assuming you have an Apple Developer account; you just needed to ask for it but it doesn't come by default).

--Ken

Ok, thanks guys, for the responses. So, it looks like all I can do is patch the xnu kernel sources and then build a custom kernel from them? (I remember setting up the toolchain to build a kernel from sources was fun even 20years ago, but I do see a few postings from people who have succeeded in doing it.) Thanks, rick _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. Darwin-kernel mailing list (Darwin-kernel@lists.apple.com) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: https://lists.apple.com/mailman/options/darwin-kernel/site_archiver%40lists.... This email sent to site_archiver@lists.apple.com