nixvm 0.0.0

A portable VM-style sandbox that runs a real Linux userland by emulating Linux syscalls directly (no guest kernel, no device emulation).
Documentation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
//! Copy-on-write overlay filesystem.
//!
//! Presents a merged view of a read-only `lower` (e.g. the squashfs root) and a
//! writable `upper` (a [`TmpFs`](super::TmpFs)). Reads prefer the upper and fall
//! through to the lower; the first write to a lower-only path *copies it up*
//! into the upper; deletions record a *whiteout* that hides the lower entry.
//! The lower is never modified — so `/` is mutable but ephemeral.

use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
use std::io;

use super::{Attrs, DirEntry, MountFs, NodeKind};

#[derive(Debug)]
pub struct Overlay {
    upper: Box<dyn MountFs>,
    lower: Box<dyn MountFs>,
    /// Paths deleted from the merged view (hide the lower entry).
    whiteouts: BTreeSet<String>,
}

impl Overlay {
    /// Build an overlay with `upper` (writable) over `lower` (read-only).
    #[must_use]
    pub fn new(lower: Box<dyn MountFs>, upper: Box<dyn MountFs>) -> Self {
        Self {
            upper,
            lower,
            whiteouts: BTreeSet::new(),
        }
    }

    /// Is `rel` (or an ancestor) hidden by a whiteout?
    fn is_whited(&self, rel: &str) -> bool {
        if self.whiteouts.contains(rel) {
            return true;
        }
        let mut p = rel;
        while let Some(i) = p.rfind('/') {
            p = &p[..i];
            if self.whiteouts.contains(p) {
                return true;
            }
        }
        false
    }

    /// Ensure directory `dir` exists in the upper layer, creating ancestors.
    fn ensure_dir_in_upper(&mut self, dir: &str) {
        if dir.is_empty() || self.upper.stat(dir).is_some() {
            return;
        }
        self.ensure_dir_in_upper(parent_of(dir));
        let _ = self.upper.mkdir(dir, 0o755);
    }

    /// Read a lower file's full contents.
    fn read_all_lower(&mut self, rel: &str) -> Vec<u8> {
        let size = self.lower.stat(rel).map_or(0, |a| a.size) as usize;
        let mut data = vec![0u8; size];
        let mut off = 0;
        while off < size {
            match self.lower.read_at(rel, off as u64, &mut data[off..]) {
                Ok(0) | Err(_) => break,
                Ok(n) => off += n,
            }
        }
        data.truncate(off);
        data
    }

    /// Materialize `rel` into the upper layer if it lives only in the lower.
    /// For a directory, this recurses into every non-whited-out lower child
    /// so that renaming (or otherwise moving) a lower-only directory brings
    /// its whole subtree along rather than an empty shell.
    fn copy_up(&mut self, rel: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
        if self.upper.stat(rel).is_some() {
            return Ok(());
        }
        let Some(attrs) = self.lower.stat(rel) else {
            return Ok(()); // nothing to copy; caller creates fresh
        };
        self.ensure_dir_in_upper(parent_of(rel));
        match attrs.kind {
            NodeKind::Dir => {
                self.ensure_dir_in_upper(rel);
                if let Ok(entries) = self.lower.readdir(rel) {
                    for e in entries {
                        let child = join(rel, &e.name);
                        if !self.is_whited(&child) {
                            self.copy_up(&child)?;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            NodeKind::Symlink => {
                if let Ok(target) = self.lower.readlink(rel) {
                    self.upper.symlink(&target, rel)?;
                }
            }
            _ => {
                let data = self.read_all_lower(rel);
                self.upper.create(rel, attrs.mode & 0o777)?;
                self.upper.write_at(rel, 0, &data)?;
            }
        }
        Ok(())
    }
}

fn parent_of(rel: &str) -> &str {
    match rel.rfind('/') {
        Some(i) => &rel[..i],
        None => "",
    }
}

fn join(dir: &str, name: &str) -> String {
    if dir.is_empty() {
        name.to_string()
    } else {
        format!("{dir}/{name}")
    }
}

fn enoent() -> io::Error {
    io::Error::from_raw_os_error(2)
}
fn eexist() -> io::Error {
    io::Error::from_raw_os_error(17)
}
fn enotdir() -> io::Error {
    io::Error::from_raw_os_error(20)
}
fn eisdir() -> io::Error {
    io::Error::from_raw_os_error(21)
}
fn einval() -> io::Error {
    io::Error::from_raw_os_error(22)
}
fn enotempty() -> io::Error {
    io::Error::from_raw_os_error(39)
}

impl MountFs for Overlay {
    fn read_only(&self) -> bool {
        false
    }

    fn stat(&mut self, rel: &str) -> Option<Attrs> {
        if self.is_whited(rel) {
            return None;
        }
        self.upper.stat(rel).or_else(|| self.lower.stat(rel))
    }

    fn read_at(&mut self, rel: &str, off: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
        if self.is_whited(rel) {
            return Err(enoent());
        }
        if self.upper.stat(rel).is_some() {
            self.upper.read_at(rel, off, buf)
        } else {
            self.lower.read_at(rel, off, buf)
        }
    }

    fn readdir(&mut self, rel: &str) -> io::Result<Vec<DirEntry>> {
        if self.is_whited(rel) || self.stat(rel).is_none() {
            return Err(enoent());
        }
        let mut seen: BTreeMap<String, DirEntry> = BTreeMap::new();
        if let Ok(entries) = self.lower.readdir(rel) {
            for e in entries {
                if !self.is_whited(&join(rel, &e.name)) {
                    seen.insert(e.name.clone(), e);
                }
            }
        }
        if let Ok(entries) = self.upper.readdir(rel) {
            for e in entries {
                seen.insert(e.name.clone(), e); // upper shadows lower
            }
        }
        Ok(seen.into_values().collect())
    }

    fn write_at(&mut self, rel: &str, off: u64, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
        self.copy_up(rel)?;
        self.upper.write_at(rel, off, buf)
    }

    fn create(&mut self, rel: &str, mode: u32) -> io::Result<()> {
        if self.stat(rel).is_some() {
            return Err(eexist());
        }
        self.whiteouts.remove(rel);
        self.ensure_dir_in_upper(parent_of(rel));
        self.upper.create(rel, mode)
    }

    fn mkdir(&mut self, rel: &str, mode: u32) -> io::Result<()> {
        if self.stat(rel).is_some() {
            return Err(eexist());
        }
        self.whiteouts.remove(rel);
        self.ensure_dir_in_upper(parent_of(rel));
        self.upper.mkdir(rel, mode)
    }

    fn unlink(&mut self, rel: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
        match self.stat(rel) {
            None => return Err(enoent()),
            Some(a) if a.kind == NodeKind::Dir => return Err(eisdir()),
            Some(_) => {}
        }
        let _ = self.upper.unlink(rel);
        self.whiteouts.insert(rel.to_string());
        Ok(())
    }

    fn rmdir(&mut self, rel: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
        match self.stat(rel) {
            Some(a) if a.kind == NodeKind::Dir => {}
            Some(_) => return Err(enotdir()),
            None => return Err(enoent()),
        }
        if !self.readdir(rel)?.is_empty() {
            return Err(enotempty());
        }
        let _ = self.upper.rmdir(rel);
        self.whiteouts.insert(rel.to_string());
        Ok(())
    }

    fn truncate(&mut self, rel: &str, len: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
        self.copy_up(rel)?;
        self.upper.truncate(rel, len)
    }

    fn symlink(&mut self, target: &str, linkpath: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
        if self.stat(linkpath).is_some() {
            return Err(eexist());
        }
        self.whiteouts.remove(linkpath);
        self.ensure_dir_in_upper(parent_of(linkpath));
        self.upper.symlink(target, linkpath)
    }

    fn readlink(&mut self, rel: &str) -> io::Result<String> {
        if self.is_whited(rel) {
            return Err(enoent());
        }
        if self.upper.stat(rel).is_some() {
            self.upper.readlink(rel)
        } else {
            self.lower.readlink(rel)
        }
    }

    fn rename(&mut self, from: &str, to: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
        if from == to {
            return if self.stat(from).is_some() {
                Ok(())
            } else {
                Err(enoent())
            };
        }
        let Some(from_attrs) = self.stat(from) else {
            return Err(enoent());
        };
        let from_is_dir = from_attrs.kind == NodeKind::Dir;
        // Refuse to move a directory into itself or one of its own
        // descendants.
        if from_is_dir && (to == from || to.starts_with(&format!("{from}/"))) {
            return Err(einval());
        }
        if let Some(to_attrs) = self.stat(to) {
            let to_is_dir = to_attrs.kind == NodeKind::Dir;
            match (from_is_dir, to_is_dir) {
                // Directory onto directory: only if the destination is empty
                // in the merged view.
                (true, true) => {
                    if !self.readdir(to)?.is_empty() {
                        return Err(enotempty());
                    }
                }
                (true, false) => return Err(enotdir()),
                (false, true) => return Err(eisdir()),
                (false, false) => {}
            }
            // Clear the destination from the upper layer (if present there);
            // any lower counterpart is superseded once `to` reappears in the
            // upper below.
            if to_is_dir {
                let _ = self.upper.rmdir(to);
            } else {
                let _ = self.upper.unlink(to);
            }
        }

        // Copy the whole `from` subtree into the upper layer first (a no-op
        // for anything already upper-resident), then rename within the
        // upper — the lower layer is never mutated.
        self.copy_up(from)?;
        self.ensure_dir_in_upper(parent_of(to));
        self.whiteouts.remove(to);
        self.upper.rename(from, to)?;
        self.whiteouts.insert(from.to_string()); // hide any lower `from`
        Ok(())
    }
}

#[cfg(test)]
mod tests {
    use super::*;
    use crate::fs::TmpFs;

    /// A lower layer with `/f` = "low" and directory `/d` containing `/d/x`.
    fn seeded_lower() -> Box<dyn MountFs> {
        let mut fs = TmpFs::new();
        fs.create("f", 0o644).unwrap();
        fs.write_at("f", 0, b"low").unwrap();
        fs.mkdir("d", 0o755).unwrap();
        fs.create("d/x", 0o644).unwrap();
        Box::new(fs)
    }

    fn overlay() -> Overlay {
        Overlay::new(seeded_lower(), Box::new(TmpFs::new()))
    }

    #[test]
    fn reads_fall_through_to_lower() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        let mut buf = [0u8; 3];
        assert_eq!(o.read_at("f", 0, &mut buf).unwrap(), 3);
        assert_eq!(&buf, b"low");
    }

    #[test]
    fn write_copies_up_without_touching_lower() {
        let mut lower = seeded_lower();
        let mut o = Overlay::new(
            {
                // fresh identical lower we can inspect separately
                let mut fs = TmpFs::new();
                fs.create("f", 0o644).unwrap();
                fs.write_at("f", 0, b"low").unwrap();
                Box::new(fs)
            },
            Box::new(TmpFs::new()),
        );
        o.write_at("f", 0, b"UP!").unwrap();
        let mut buf = [0u8; 3];
        o.read_at("f", 0, &mut buf).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(&buf, b"UP!", "overlay sees the new contents");
        // The original lower is untouched.
        let mut lb = [0u8; 3];
        lower.read_at("f", 0, &mut lb).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(&lb, b"low");
    }

    #[test]
    fn whiteout_hides_lower_entry() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        assert!(o.stat("f").is_some());
        o.unlink("f").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("f").is_none(), "unlinked entry hidden");
        assert!(o.read_at("f", 0, &mut [0u8; 3]).is_err());
    }

    #[test]
    fn readdir_merges_layers_minus_whiteouts() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        o.create("newfile", 0o644).unwrap();
        let mut names: Vec<_> = o.readdir("").unwrap().into_iter().map(|e| e.name).collect();
        names.sort();
        assert_eq!(names, vec!["d", "f", "newfile"]);

        o.unlink("f").unwrap();
        let mut names: Vec<_> = o.readdir("").unwrap().into_iter().map(|e| e.name).collect();
        names.sort();
        assert_eq!(names, vec!["d", "newfile"]);
    }

    #[test]
    fn create_in_lower_only_subdir_copies_parent_up() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        // Write into a file under the lower-only dir /d.
        o.write_at("d/x", 0, b"z").unwrap();
        let mut buf = [0u8; 1];
        o.read_at("d/x", 0, &mut buf).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(&buf, b"z");
    }

    #[test]
    fn unlink_lower_file_removes_it_from_readdir_and_stat() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        o.unlink("f").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("f").is_none());
        assert_eq!(
            o.read_at("f", 0, &mut [0u8; 3]).unwrap_err().raw_os_error(),
            Some(2) // ENOENT
        );
        let names: Vec<_> = o.readdir("").unwrap().into_iter().map(|e| e.name).collect();
        assert!(!names.contains(&"f".to_string()));
    }

    #[test]
    fn recreating_after_unlink_clears_the_whiteout() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        o.unlink("f").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("f").is_none());
        o.create("f", 0o644).unwrap();
        o.write_at("f", 0, b"new").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("f").is_some());
        let mut buf = [0u8; 3];
        o.read_at("f", 0, &mut buf).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(&buf, b"new");
        let names: Vec<_> = o.readdir("").unwrap().into_iter().map(|e| e.name).collect();
        assert!(names.contains(&"f".to_string()));
    }

    #[test]
    fn readdir_dedups_name_present_in_both_layers() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        // After a write, "f" is copied up: it now exists in both upper and
        // lower under the same name.
        o.write_at("f", 0, b"UP!").unwrap();
        let names: Vec<_> = o.readdir("").unwrap().into_iter().map(|e| e.name).collect();
        assert_eq!(names.iter().filter(|n| n.as_str() == "f").count(), 1);
    }

    #[test]
    fn recreating_dir_after_rmdir_does_not_leak_lower_children() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        // "d" (lower) contains only "d/x"; empty it out, then rmdir it.
        o.unlink("d/x").unwrap();
        o.rmdir("d").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("d").is_none());

        // Recreate "d" fresh and populate it differently.
        o.mkdir("d", 0o755).unwrap();
        o.create("d/y", 0o644).unwrap();

        let names: Vec<_> = o
            .readdir("d")
            .unwrap()
            .into_iter()
            .map(|e| e.name)
            .collect();
        assert_eq!(names, vec!["y".to_string()]);
        assert!(o.stat("d/x").is_none(), "stale lower child must not leak");
    }

    #[test]
    fn mkdir_and_create_reject_existing_lower_entries() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        assert_eq!(o.mkdir("d", 0o755).unwrap_err().raw_os_error(), Some(17)); // EEXIST
        assert_eq!(o.create("f", 0o644).unwrap_err().raw_os_error(), Some(17)); // EEXIST
    }

    #[test]
    fn rename_copies_up_lower_file_then_moves_it() {
        let mut lower_check = seeded_lower();
        let mut o = overlay();
        o.rename("f", "g").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("f").is_none());
        let mut buf = [0u8; 3];
        o.read_at("g", 0, &mut buf).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(&buf, b"low");
        // The lower layer was never touched.
        let mut lb = [0u8; 3];
        lower_check.read_at("f", 0, &mut lb).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(&lb, b"low");
    }

    #[test]
    fn rename_lower_only_dir_brings_its_subtree() {
        let mut o = overlay();
        o.rename("d", "e").unwrap();
        assert!(o.stat("d").is_none());
        let mut buf = [0u8; 1];
        o.read_at("e/x", 0, &mut buf).unwrap();
        let names: Vec<_> = o
            .readdir("e")
            .unwrap()
            .into_iter()
            .map(|e| e.name)
            .collect();
        assert_eq!(names, vec!["x".to_string()]);
    }
}