Recalling OpenAFS for Windows 1.5.22 to 1.5.24; Rollback to 1.5.21

Over the last two weeks there have been a flurry of OpenAFS for Windows
releases culminating in version 1.5.24.  These releases have included
some very important changes intended to improve the performance of the
OAFW client especially in the areas of disconnected operations and
directory search.  Unfortunately, these releases have also included bugs
that could result in either deadlock or panic that were not detectable
using the current set of test suites.  Nor were the problems detected by
the volunteers from the OpenAFS community who regularly install daily
builds on production systems prior to their public release.  As a
result, I am recommending that all users of OpenAFS for Windows roll
back to the 1.5.21 release.

The quality of OpenAFS for Windows is maintained through the following
methods:

   1. All source code changes are reviewed by at least one developer
      other than the author who is familiar with the code base. 
   2. Testing of Daily builds
         1. A multi-threaded multi-process stress test that covers the
            majority of CIFS requests is used.  These tests are
            performed in an environment designed to generate large
            numbers of file server callbacks and volume relocations.
         2. Manual testing is performed using Microsoft Office 2003,
            Adobe Photoshop, and Pro Engineer and 16-bit Quatro Pro. 
            Applications that have proven to identify coding issues in
            the past.
         3. Installation of daily builds on a high traffic web server
            that serves content out of AFS.
         4. Building OpenAFS out of AFS.

Unfortunately, the tests do not cover all code paths.  In particular,
they do not cover all of the pioctl operations nor do they cover the
manipulation of symlinks and mount points, nor transitions between
authenticated and unauthenticated access.  In the coming weeks we will
add additional tests to increase the opportunity for us to detect
problems before the monthly production release is issued.

I am truly sorry that the community has been let down in this way.

Jeffrey Altman
OpenAFS Gatekeeper