cp fails in this symlink case, kernel 2.4.25, reiserfs + ext2

[Martin Rode <martin.rode@zeroscale.com>]

Dear developers,

After 10 years with linux I am happy I can report something :-). 

I don't know 100% if is a bug, but I think it is.

The example below fails on reiserfs as well as on ext2 for me. I dont
think it should fail, or am I missing something? 

Please cc me personally, I am not a subscriber.

Kernel testet: 2.4.[25|19]
Filesystems testet: reiserfs, ext2

Take Care,
Martin


How to reproduce:
-----------------

In any directory try this:

1) mkdir -p alpha/gamma beta
2) (cd alpha; ln -s ../beta .; ln -s gamma latest;)
3) echo "Test" > alpha/gamma/myfile

4) Check
apu:/home/martin/tmp/bug# find -exec file {} \;
.: directory
./alpha: directory
./alpha/gamma: directory
./alpha/gamma/myfile: ASCII text
./alpha/beta: symbolic link to `../beta'
./alpha/latest: symbolic link to `gamma'
./beta: directory

5) cp fails
apu:/home/martin/tmp/bug# (cd alpha/beta; cp ../latest/myfile .)
cp: cannot stat `../latest/myfile': No such file or directory

6) cp ok
apu:/home/martin/tmp/bug# (cd alpha/; cp latest/myfile beta && echo
"ok")
ok