[Bug 667404] Re: Allow \xNN hex escapes in /etc/fstab for compatibility with /dev/disk/by-label

[jimav]

Alternatively, fix the system (udev?)  to not replace spaces with escape
sequences, but simply embed the actual space characters in the symlinks
under /dev/disk/by-label, just like ordinary files containing spaces.

Currently, the "\xNN" escapes are actual characters in the symbolic
link's name.  Upon reflection, this seems wrong.

** Description changed:

  Binary package hint: util-linux
  
  This is an enhancement request, not a bug report.
  
  The request: Allow special characters in /etc/fstab to be represented
  using either \xNN or \NNN hex or octal escapes (currently only the octal
  form is accepted).
  
  This will make /etc/fstab syntax compatible with the way disk labels are
  displayed by udev in /dev/disk/by-label, which uses hex escapes.
  
  For example, I have an external (ESATA) disk drive with an NTFS
  partition labeled "Cavalry External Drive".  After plugging it in, the
  label can be seen as follows:
  
- $ ls -l /dev/disk/by-label/
- lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 2010-10-27 11:15 'Cavalry\x20External\x20Drive' -> ../../sdc1
+ $ ls -l -N /dev/disk/by-label/
+ lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 2010-10-27 11:27 Cavalry\x20External\x20Drive -> ../../sdc1
  
  However, if the label is copied as-is to an /etc/fstab entry it won't work.   You have to translate to octal, like this:
  LABEL=Cavalry\040External\040Drive /mnt auto rw,user,utf8 0 0
  
  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
  Package: mount 2.17.2-0ubuntu1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-22.35-generic 2.6.35.4
  Uname: Linux 2.6.35-22-generic x86_64
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Wed Oct 27 11:16:35 2010
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release Candidate amd64 (20100928)
  ProcEnviron:
-  PATH=(custom, user)
-  LANG=en_US.utf8
-  SHELL=/bin/bash
+  PATH=(custom, user)
+  LANG=en_US.utf8
+  SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: util-linux

-- 
Allow \xNN hex escapes in /etc/fstab for compatibility with /dev/disk/by-label
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/667404
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