diff --git a/mkdocs/docs/faq/compatibility_and_integration.md b/mkdocs/docs/faq/compatibility_and_integration.md index b39a1b82..ff1a2080 100644 --- a/mkdocs/docs/faq/compatibility_and_integration.md +++ b/mkdocs/docs/faq/compatibility_and_integration.md @@ -58,3 +58,33 @@ does. If you are exporting mergerfs over NFS then it is not really necessary. See the [section on remote filesystems.](../remote_filesystems.md) + + +## Does inotify and fanotify work? + +Yes. You can test by using +[inotifywait](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/inotifywait.1.html) or +[inotifywatch](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/inotifywatch.1.html). + +However, you can not get notifications for events that occur outside +of the mergerfs mount. For instance if you are doing +[out-of-band](usage_and_functionality.md#can-filesystems-be-removed-from-the-pool-without-affecting-them) +changes it is not possible to get those events forwarded through +mergerfs. FUSE offers no mechanism to publish events and even if it +did it would require somewhat expensive +[inotify](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man7/inotify.7.html) or +[fanotify](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man7/fanotify.7.html) +watches on all branches. + +Most software which has the ability to actively monitor a filesystem +(such as Plex, Emby, Jellyfin, Airsonic, etc.) are using `inotify` or +`fanotify`. + +If you must add content out-of-band the only way to get real-time +updates (via inotify or fanotify) is to add the underlying branches to +the software rather than using the mergerfs mount. An alternative is +to enable regular library scanning. Plex, for instance, has "Scan my +library periodically". Additionally, if you are using software such as +Radarr, Sonarr, or Lidarr you can configure it to trigger library +updates in a number of services. This can be found under `Settings > +Connect`.