nbdkit-ruby-plugin(3)
NAME
nbdkit-ruby-plugin - nbdkit ruby plugin
SYNOPSIS
nbdkit ruby script=/path/to/plugin.rb [arguments...]
DESCRIPTION
"nbdkit-ruby-plugin" is an embedded Ruby interpreter for nbdkit(1), allowing you to write nbdkit plugins in Ruby. Broadly speaking, Ruby nbdkit plugins work like C ones, so you should read nbdkit-plugin(3) first. USING A RUBY NBDKIT PLUGIN Assuming you have a Ruby script which is an nbdkit plugin, you run it like this: nbdkit ruby script=/path/to/ruby.rb You may have to add further "key=value" arguments to the command line. Read the Ruby script to see if it requires any. "script=..." must come first on the command line.
WRITING A RUBY NBDKIT PLUGIN
There is an example Ruby nbdkit plugin called "example.rb" which ships
with the nbdkit source.
To write a Ruby nbdkit plugin, you create a Ruby file which contains at
least the following required functions:
def open(readonly)
# see below
end
def get_size(h)
# see below
end
def pread(h, count, offset)
# see below
end
Note that the subroutines must have those literal names (like "open"),
because the C part looks up and calls those functions directly. You
may want to include documentation and globals (eg. for storing global
state). Any other top level statements are run when the script is
loaded, just like ordinary Ruby.
The file does not need to include a "#!" (hash-bang) at the top, and
does not need to be executable. In fact it's a good idea not to do
that, because running the plugin directly as a Ruby script won't work.
EXCEPTIONS
Ruby callbacks should throw exceptions to indicate errors.
RUBY CALLBACKS
This just documents the arguments to the callbacks in Ruby, and any way
that they differ from the C callbacks. In all other respects they work
the same way as the C callbacks, so you should go and read
nbdkit-plugin(3).
"config"
(Optional)
def config(key, value)
# no return value
end
"config_complete"
(Optional)
There are no arguments or return value.
"open"
(Required)
def open(readonly)
# return handle
end
You can return any non-nil Ruby value as the handle. It is passed
back in subsequent calls.
"close"
(Optional)
def close(h)
# no return value
end
"get_size"
(Required)
def get_size(h)
# return the size of the disk
end
"can_write"
(Optional)
def can_write(h)
# return a boolean
end
"can_flush"
(Optional)
def can_flush(h)
# return a boolean
end
"is_rotational"
(Optional)
def is_rotational(h)
# return a boolean
end
"can_trim"
(Optional)
def can_trim(h)
# return a boolean
end
"pread"
(Required)
def pread(h, count, offset)
# construct a string of length count bytes and return it
end
The body of your "pread" function should construct a string of
length (at least) "count" bytes. You should read "count" bytes
from the disk starting at "offset".
NBD only supports whole reads, so your function should try to read
the whole region (perhaps requiring a loop). If the read fails or
is partial, your function should throw an exception.
"pwrite"
(Optional)
def pwrite(h, buf, offset)
length = buf.length
# no return value
end
The body of your "pwrite" function should write the "buf" string to
the disk. You should write "count" bytes to the disk starting at
"offset".
NBD only supports whole writes, so your function should try to
write the whole region (perhaps requiring a loop). If the write
fails or is partial, your function should throw an exception.
"flush"
(Optional)
def flush(h)
# no return value
end
The body of your "flush" function should do a sync(2) or
fdatasync(2) or equivalent on the backing store.
"trim"
(Optional)
def trim(h, count, offset)
# no return value
end
The body of your "trim" function should "punch a hole" in the
backing store.
MISSING CALLBACKS
Missing: "load" and "unload"
These are not needed because you can just use ordinary Ruby
constructs.
Missing: "name", "version", "longname", "description", "config_help"
These are not yet supported.
THREADS
The thread model for Ruby callbacks currently cannot be set from Ruby.
It is hard-coded in the C part to
"NBDKIT_THREAD_MODEL_SERIALIZE_ALL_REQUESTS". This may change or be
settable in future.
SEE ALSO
nbdkit(1), nbdkit-plugin(3), ruby(1).
AUTHORS
Richard W.M. Jones
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Red Hat Inc.
LICENSE
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
met:
* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
documentation and/or other materials provided with the
distribution.
* Neither the name of Red Hat nor the names of its contributors may
be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
without specific prior written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY RED HAT AND CONTRIBUTORS ''AS IS'' AND ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL RED HAT OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
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