Analysis: Mailbox Directory

• Reality

  • Christenson97 shows that 7th edition mailbox (mbox) format can also be made NFS-friendly, using same trick
  • Still have issues with sync. meta-data updates

    • Now problem for NFS server vendor?
  • Does not solve locking problems with message changes, moves, or deletions
  • Mailbox locking not really a problem

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In the grand scheme of things, while locking is certainly necessary (and I believe that the POP3 protocol requires mailbox locking), if properly implemented this shouldnít pose that big of a problem.

Switching to message locking seems excessive and unnecessary for POP3 environments, especially since it creates far more synchronous meta-data operations in turn for what it supposedly gives you, and itís synchronous meta-data operations that we most want to eliminate or reduce whenever possible.