jcifs – use cifs/smbfs without installing linux kernel modules

I was recently doing some work on a Linux server that required access to a remote samba server, however it turns out that in order to attach a filesystem using the CIFS or SMBFS drivers, you need support compiled in to the kernel. This wasn’t an option for me at the time, I was working on a production machine. Recompiling the kernel and rebooting just wasn’t possible.

I was stuck until I discovered JCIFS, a Java implementation of CIFS. I wrote myself a quick java class for copying local files to a remote Samba server. JCIFS is so simple to use, and (as my experience goes) reliable and bug-free that it took me about 1/2 hr. Will post the simplified source here soon.

Helped me out of a BIG hole!

Show me the money and I’ll give you the keys

If I were to detail all of my gripes with the amount of power that rests in the hands of landlords and letting agencies (e.g. arbitary retention of deposits, little or no maintenance during tenancy, etc.) I would be here all day. One particular thought that I had today: Is it really fair that when you sign a tenancy agreement, you’re generally obliged to provide a deposit and first month’s rent either as cash or a bankers draft before being handed the keys? At the end of the tenancy period, you generally have to vacate the property, hand over the keys and then wait for some arbitrary period until your deposit is returned.

It would be much “fairer” if tenants were able to demand their deposit back before vacating the property.

“Give me the money (my money, in fact) and I’ll give you the keys.”