This is a set of patches to the Linux kernel which enable the use of 32 bits when internally representing user or group IDs, and a patch the the GNU C library which enables the use of 32 bit UIDs by applications.
Binary compatibility is maintained with all old applications and libraries.

Present Linux systems are limited to 65,536 users and groups due to the use of 16 bit integers in various parts of the code.

Why 32 bit UIDs are necessary

Project architecture (what was changed)

Download this!

Getting started

Some thoughts and questions regarding this

the port was done by Chris Wing, wingc@engin.umich.edu
on behalf of the University of Michigan's College of Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering Network .
Please send correspondence to me , not them. Thanks!
 

Disclaimer

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITH NO WARRANTY, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE.
(WITHOUT EVEN THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE). YOU WILL NOT GET ANY SUPPORT FROM OTHER LINUX KERNEL HACKERS OR LINUX SYSTEM DISTRIBUTORS IF YOU USE IT. YOU SHOULD NOT INSTALL THIS SOFTWARE ON ANY MACHINE WHICH YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO CRASH OR LOSE DATA ON. THIS SOFTWARE IS GUARANTEED TO BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH PRESENT OR FUTURE VERSIONS OF LINUX.

But, on the bright side, it hasn't crashed my system yet and everything, more or less, seems to work.

- Chris Wing - wingc@engin.umich.edu - 12/17/1998