diff --git a/CREDITS b/CREDITS index 85c7c70b7044..66b9e7a9abff 100644 --- a/CREDITS +++ b/CREDITS @@ -3401,10 +3401,10 @@ S: Czech Republic N: Thibaut Varene E: T-Bone@parisc-linux.org -W: http://www.parisc-linux.org/ +W: http://www.parisc-linux.org/~varenet/ P: 1024D/B7D2F063 E67C 0D43 A75E 12A5 BB1C FA2F 1E32 C3DA B7D2 F063 D: PA-RISC port minion, PDC and GSCPS2 drivers, debuglocks and other bits -D: Some bits in an ARM port, S1D13XXX FB driver, random patches here and there +D: Some ARM at91rm9200 bits, S1D13XXX FB driver, random patches here and there D: AD1889 sound driver S: Paris, France diff --git a/Documentation/Changes b/Documentation/Changes index b02f476c2973..488272074c36 100644 --- a/Documentation/Changes +++ b/Documentation/Changes @@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ Intel IA32 microcode -------------------- A driver has been added to allow updating of Intel IA32 microcode, -accessible as both a devfs regular file and as a normal (misc) -character device. If you are not using devfs you may need to: +accessible as a normal (misc) character device. If you are not using +udev you may need to: mkdir /dev/cpu mknod /dev/cpu/microcode c 10 184 @@ -201,7 +201,9 @@ with programs using shared memory. udev ---- udev is a userspace application for populating /dev dynamically with -only entries for devices actually present. udev replaces devfs. +only entries for devices actually present. udev replaces the basic +functionality of devfs, while allowing persistant device naming for +devices. FUSE ---- @@ -231,18 +233,13 @@ The PPP driver has been restructured to support multilink and to enable it to operate over diverse media layers. If you use PPP, upgrade pppd to at least 2.4.0. -If you are not using devfs, you must have the device file /dev/ppp +If you are not using udev, you must have the device file /dev/ppp which can be made by: mknod /dev/ppp c 108 0 as root. -If you use devfsd and build ppp support as modules, you will need -the following in your /etc/devfsd.conf file: - -LOOKUP PPP MODLOAD - Isdn4k-utils ------------ diff --git a/Documentation/DocBook/Makefile b/Documentation/DocBook/Makefile index 5a2882d275ba..66e1cf733571 100644 --- a/Documentation/DocBook/Makefile +++ b/Documentation/DocBook/Makefile @@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ DOCBOOKS := wanbook.xml z8530book.xml mcabook.xml videobook.xml \ kernel-hacking.xml kernel-locking.xml deviceiobook.xml \ procfs-guide.xml writing_usb_driver.xml \ kernel-api.xml journal-api.xml lsm.xml usb.xml \ - gadget.xml libata.xml mtdnand.xml librs.xml rapidio.xml + gadget.xml libata.xml mtdnand.xml librs.xml rapidio.xml \ + genericirq.xml ### # The build process is as follows (targets): diff --git a/Documentation/DocBook/genericirq.tmpl b/Documentation/DocBook/genericirq.tmpl new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..0f4a4b6321e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/DocBook/genericirq.tmpl @@ -0,0 +1,474 @@ + + + + + + Linux generic IRQ handling + + + + Thomas + Gleixner + +
+ tglx@linutronix.de +
+ + + + Ingo + Molnar + +
+ mingo@elte.hu +
+ + + + + + 2005-2006 + Thomas Gleixner + + + 2005-2006 + Ingo Molnar + + + + + This documentation is free software; you can redistribute + it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public + License version 2 as published by the Free Software Foundation. + + + + This program is distributed in the hope that it will be + useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied + warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + See the GNU General Public License for more details. + + + + You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public + License along with this program; if not, write to the Free + Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, + MA 02111-1307 USA + + + + For more details see the file COPYING in the source + distribution of Linux. + + + + + + + + Introduction + + The generic interrupt handling layer is designed to provide a + complete abstraction of interrupt handling for device drivers. + It is able to handle all the different types of interrupt controller + hardware. Device drivers use generic API functions to request, enable, + disable and free interrupts. The drivers do not have to know anything + about interrupt hardware details, so they can be used on different + platforms without code changes. + + + This documentation is provided to developers who want to implement + an interrupt subsystem based for their architecture, with the help + of the generic IRQ handling layer. + + + + + Rationale + + The original implementation of interrupt handling in Linux is using + the __do_IRQ() super-handler, which is able to deal with every + type of interrupt logic. + + + Originally, Russell King identified different types of handlers to + build a quite universal set for the ARM interrupt handler + implementation in Linux 2.5/2.6. He distinguished between: + + Level type + Edge type + Simple type + + In the SMP world of the __do_IRQ() super-handler another type + was identified: + + Per CPU type + + + + This split implementation of highlevel IRQ handlers allows us to + optimize the flow of the interrupt handling for each specific + interrupt type. This reduces complexity in that particular codepath + and allows the optimized handling of a given type. + + + The original general IRQ implementation used hw_interrupt_type + structures and their ->ack(), ->end() [etc.] callbacks to + differentiate the flow control in the super-handler. This leads to + a mix of flow logic and lowlevel hardware logic, and it also leads + to unnecessary code duplication: for example in i386, there is a + ioapic_level_irq and a ioapic_edge_irq irq-type which share many + of the lowlevel details but have different flow handling. + + + A more natural abstraction is the clean separation of the + 'irq flow' and the 'chip details'. + + + Analysing a couple of architecture's IRQ subsystem implementations + reveals that most of them can use a generic set of 'irq flow' + methods and only need to add the chip level specific code. + The separation is also valuable for (sub)architectures + which need specific quirks in the irq flow itself but not in the + chip-details - and thus provides a more transparent IRQ subsystem + design. + + + Each interrupt descriptor is assigned its own highlevel flow + handler, which is normally one of the generic + implementations. (This highlevel flow handler implementation also + makes it simple to provide demultiplexing handlers which can be + found in embedded platforms on various architectures.) + + + The separation makes the generic interrupt handling layer more + flexible and extensible. For example, an (sub)architecture can + use a generic irq-flow implementation for 'level type' interrupts + and add a (sub)architecture specific 'edge type' implementation. + + + To make the transition to the new model easier and prevent the + breakage of existing implementations, the __do_IRQ() super-handler + is still available. This leads to a kind of duality for the time + being. Over time the new model should be used in more and more + architectures, as it enables smaller and cleaner IRQ subsystems. + + + + Known Bugs And Assumptions + + None (knock on wood). + + + + + Abstraction layers + + There are three main levels of abstraction in the interrupt code: + + Highlevel driver API + Highlevel IRQ flow handlers + Chiplevel hardware encapsulation + + + + Interrupt control flow + + Each interrupt is described by an interrupt descriptor structure + irq_desc. The interrupt is referenced by an 'unsigned int' numeric + value which selects the corresponding interrupt decription structure + in the descriptor structures array. + The descriptor structure contains status information and pointers + to the interrupt flow method and the interrupt chip structure + which are assigned to this interrupt. + + + Whenever an interrupt triggers, the lowlevel arch code calls into + the generic interrupt code by calling desc->handle_irq(). + This highlevel IRQ handling function only uses desc->chip primitives + referenced by the assigned chip descriptor structure. + + + + Highlevel Driver API + + The highlevel Driver API consists of following functions: + + request_irq() + free_irq() + disable_irq() + enable_irq() + disable_irq_nosync() (SMP only) + synchronize_irq() (SMP only) + set_irq_type() + set_irq_wake() + set_irq_data() + set_irq_chip() + set_irq_chip_data() + + See the autogenerated function documentation for details. + + + + Highlevel IRQ flow handlers + + The generic layer provides a set of pre-defined irq-flow methods: + + handle_level_irq + handle_edge_irq + handle_simple_irq + handle_percpu_irq + + The interrupt flow handlers (either predefined or architecture + specific) are assigned to specific interrupts by the architecture + either during bootup or during device initialization. + + + Default flow implementations + + Helper functions + + The helper functions call the chip primitives and + are used by the default flow implementations. + The following helper functions are implemented (simplified excerpt): + +default_enable(irq) +{ + desc->chip->unmask(irq); +} + +default_disable(irq) +{ + if (!delay_disable(irq)) + desc->chip->mask(irq); +} + +default_ack(irq) +{ + chip->ack(irq); +} + +default_mask_ack(irq) +{ + if (chip->mask_ack) { + chip->mask_ack(irq); + } else { + chip->mask(irq); + chip->ack(irq); + } +} + +noop(irq) +{ +} + + + + + + + Default flow handler implementations + + Default Level IRQ flow handler + + handle_level_irq provides a generic implementation + for level-triggered interrupts. + + + The following control flow is implemented (simplified excerpt): + +desc->chip->start(); +handle_IRQ_event(desc->action); +desc->chip->end(); + + + + + Default Edge IRQ flow handler + + handle_edge_irq provides a generic implementation + for edge-triggered interrupts. + + + The following control flow is implemented (simplified excerpt): + +if (desc->status & running) { + desc->chip->hold(); + desc->status |= pending | masked; + return; +} +desc->chip->start(); +desc->status |= running; +do { + if (desc->status & masked) + desc->chip->enable(); + desc-status &= ~pending; + handle_IRQ_event(desc->action); +} while (status & pending); +desc-status &= ~running; +desc->chip->end(); + + + + + Default simple IRQ flow handler + + handle_simple_irq provides a generic implementation + for simple interrupts. + + + Note: The simple flow handler does not call any + handler/chip primitives. + + + The following control flow is implemented (simplified excerpt): + +handle_IRQ_event(desc->action); + + + + + Default per CPU flow handler + + handle_percpu_irq provides a generic implementation + for per CPU interrupts. + + + Per CPU interrupts are only available on SMP and + the handler provides a simplified version without + locking. + + + The following control flow is implemented (simplified excerpt): + +desc->chip->start(); +handle_IRQ_event(desc->action); +desc->chip->end(); + + + + + + Quirks and optimizations + + The generic functions are intended for 'clean' architectures and chips, + which have no platform-specific IRQ handling quirks. If an architecture + needs to implement quirks on the 'flow' level then it can do so by + overriding the highlevel irq-flow handler. + + + + Delayed interrupt disable + + This per interrupt selectable feature, which was introduced by Russell + King in the ARM interrupt implementation, does not mask an interrupt + at the hardware level when disable_irq() is called. The interrupt is + kept enabled and is masked in the flow handler when an interrupt event + happens. This prevents losing edge interrupts on hardware which does + not store an edge interrupt event while the interrupt is disabled at + the hardware level. When an interrupt arrives while the IRQ_DISABLED + flag is set, then the interrupt is masked at the hardware level and + the IRQ_PENDING bit is set. When the interrupt is re-enabled by + enable_irq() the pending bit is checked and if it is set, the + interrupt is resent either via hardware or by a software resend + mechanism. (It's necessary to enable CONFIG_HARDIRQS_SW_RESEND when + you want to use the delayed interrupt disable feature and your + hardware is not capable of retriggering an interrupt.) + The delayed interrupt disable can be runtime enabled, per interrupt, + by setting the IRQ_DELAYED_DISABLE flag in the irq_desc status field. + + + + + Chiplevel hardware encapsulation + + The chip level hardware descriptor structure irq_chip + contains all the direct chip relevant functions, which + can be utilized by the irq flow implementations. + + ack() + mask_ack() - Optional, recommended for performance + mask() + unmask() + retrigger() - Optional + set_type() - Optional + set_wake() - Optional + + These primitives are strictly intended to mean what they say: ack means + ACK, masking means masking of an IRQ line, etc. It is up to the flow + handler(s) to use these basic units of lowlevel functionality. + + + + + + __do_IRQ entry point + + The original implementation __do_IRQ() is an alternative entry + point for all types of interrupts. + + + This handler turned out to be not suitable for all + interrupt hardware and was therefore reimplemented with split + functionality for egde/level/simple/percpu interrupts. This is not + only a functional optimization. It also shortens code paths for + interrupts. + + + To make use of the split implementation, replace the call to + __do_IRQ by a call to desc->chip->handle_irq() and associate + the appropriate handler function to desc->chip->handle_irq(). + In most cases the generic handler implementations should + be sufficient. + + + + + Locking on SMP + + The locking of chip registers is up to the architecture that + defines the chip primitives. There is a chip->lock field that can be used + for serialization, but the generic layer does not touch it. The per-irq + structure is protected via desc->lock, by the generic layer. + + + + Structures + + This chapter contains the autogenerated documentation of the structures which are + used in the generic IRQ layer. + +!Iinclude/linux/irq.h + + + + Public Functions Provided + + This chapter contains the autogenerated documentation of the kernel API functions + which are exported. + +!Ekernel/irq/manage.c +!Ekernel/irq/chip.c + + + + Internal Functions Provided + + This chapter contains the autogenerated documentation of the internal functions. + +!Ikernel/irq/handle.c +!Ikernel/irq/chip.c + + + + Credits + + The following people have contributed to this document: + + Thomas Gleixnertglx@linutronix.de + Ingo Molnarmingo@elte.hu + + + + diff --git a/Documentation/DocBook/kernel-api.tmpl b/Documentation/DocBook/kernel-api.tmpl index 3630a0d7695f..1ae4dc0fd856 100644 --- a/Documentation/DocBook/kernel-api.tmpl +++ b/Documentation/DocBook/kernel-api.tmpl @@ -348,11 +348,6 @@ X!Earch/i386/kernel/mca.c - - The Device File System -!Efs/devfs/base.c - - The Filesystem for Exporting Kernel Objects !Efs/sysfs/file.c diff --git a/Documentation/IRQ.txt b/Documentation/IRQ.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..1011e7175021 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/IRQ.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +What is an IRQ? + +An IRQ is an interrupt request from a device. +Currently they can come in over a pin, or over a packet. +Several devices may be connected to the same pin thus +sharing an IRQ. + +An IRQ number is a kernel identifier used to talk about a hardware +interrupt source. Typically this is an index into the global irq_desc +array, but except for what linux/interrupt.h implements the details +are architecture specific. + +An IRQ number is an enumeration of the possible interrupt sources on a +machine. Typically what is enumerated is the number of input pins on +all of the interrupt controller in the system. In the case of ISA +what is enumerated are the 16 input pins on the two i8259 interrupt +controllers. + +Architectures can assign additional meaning to the IRQ numbers, and +are encouraged to in the case where there is any manual configuration +of the hardware involved. The ISA IRQs are a classic example of +assigning this kind of additional meaning. diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt b/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt index e4c38152f7f7..a4948591607d 100644 --- a/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt +++ b/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ The CONFIG_RCU_TORTURE_TEST config option is available for all RCU implementations. It creates an rcutorture kernel module that can be loaded to run a torture test. The test periodically outputs status messages via printk(), which can be examined via the dmesg -command (perhaps grepping for "rcutorture"). The test is started +command (perhaps grepping for "torture"). The test is started when the module is loaded, and stops when the module is unloaded. However, actually setting this config option to "y" results in the system @@ -35,6 +35,19 @@ stat_interval The number of seconds between output of torture be printed -only- when the module is unloaded, and this is the default. +shuffle_interval + The number of seconds to keep the test threads affinitied + to a particular subset of the CPUs. Used in conjunction + with test_no_idle_hz. + +test_no_idle_hz Whether or not to test the ability of RCU to operate in + a kernel that disables the scheduling-clock interrupt to + idle CPUs. Boolean parameter, "1" to test, "0" otherwise. + +torture_type The type of RCU to test: "rcu" for the rcu_read_lock() + API, "rcu_bh" for the rcu_read_lock_bh() API, and "srcu" + for the "srcu_read_lock()" API. + verbose Enable debug printk()s. Default is disabled. @@ -42,14 +55,14 @@ OUTPUT The statistics output is as follows: - rcutorture: --- Start of test: nreaders=16 stat_interval=0 verbose=0 - rcutorture: rtc: 0000000000000000 ver: 1916 tfle: 0 rta: 1916 rtaf: 0 rtf: 1915 - rcutorture: Reader Pipe: 1466408 9747 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - rcutorture: Reader Batch: 1464477 11678 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - rcutorture: Free-Block Circulation: 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 0 - rcutorture: --- End of test + rcu-torture: --- Start of test: nreaders=16 stat_interval=0 verbose=0 + rcu-torture: rtc: 0000000000000000 ver: 1916 tfle: 0 rta: 1916 rtaf: 0 rtf: 1915 + rcu-torture: Reader Pipe: 1466408 9747 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + rcu-torture: Reader Batch: 1464477 11678 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + rcu-torture: Free-Block Circulation: 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 0 + rcu-torture: --- End of test -The command "dmesg | grep rcutorture:" will extract this information on +The command "dmesg | grep torture:" will extract this information on most systems. On more esoteric configurations, it may be necessary to use other commands to access the output of the printk()s used by the RCU torture test. The printk()s use KERN_ALERT, so they should @@ -115,8 +128,9 @@ The following script may be used to torture RCU: modprobe rcutorture sleep 100 rmmod rcutorture - dmesg | grep rcutorture: + dmesg | grep torture: The output can be manually inspected for the error flag of "!!!". One could of course create a more elaborate script that automatically -checked for such errors. +checked for such errors. The "rmmod" command forces a "SUCCESS" or +"FAILURE" indication to be printk()ed. diff --git a/Documentation/README.DAC960 b/Documentation/README.DAC960 index 98ea617a0dd6..0e8f618ab534 100644 --- a/Documentation/README.DAC960 +++ b/Documentation/README.DAC960 @@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ also known as "System Drives", and Drive Groups are also called "Packs". Both terms are in use in the Mylex documentation; I have chosen to standardize on the more generic "Logical Drive" and "Drive Group". -DAC960 RAID disk devices are named in the style of the Device File System -(DEVFS). The device corresponding to Logical Drive D on Controller C is -referred to as /dev/rd/cCdD, and the partitions are called /dev/rd/cCdDp1 +DAC960 RAID disk devices are named in the style of the obsolete Device File +System (DEVFS). The device corresponding to Logical Drive D on Controller C +is referred to as /dev/rd/cCdD, and the partitions are called /dev/rd/cCdDp1 through /dev/rd/cCdDp7. For example, partition 3 of Logical Drive 5 on Controller 2 is referred to as /dev/rd/c2d5p3. Note that unlike with SCSI disks the device names will not change in the event of a disk drive failure. diff --git a/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt b/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt index 027285d0c26c..1cbbb8e28999 100644 --- a/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt +++ b/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt @@ -6,17 +6,6 @@ be removed from this file. --------------------------- -What: devfs -When: July 2005 -Files: fs/devfs/*, include/linux/devfs_fs*.h and assorted devfs - function calls throughout the kernel tree -Why: It has been unmaintained for a number of years, has unfixable - races, contains a naming policy within the kernel that is - against the LSB, and can be replaced by using udev. -Who: Greg Kroah-Hartman - ---------------------------- - What: RAW driver (CONFIG_RAW_DRIVER) When: December 2005 Why: declared obsolete since kernel 2.6.3 @@ -132,16 +121,6 @@ Who: NeilBrown --------------------------- -What: au1x00_uart driver -When: January 2006 -Why: The 8250 serial driver now has the ability to deal with the differences - between the standard 8250 family of UARTs and their slightly strange - brother on Alchemy SOCs. The loss of features is not considered an - issue. -Who: Ralf Baechle - ---------------------------- - What: eepro100 network driver When: January 2007 Why: replaced by the e100 driver @@ -177,6 +156,16 @@ Who: Jean Delvare --------------------------- +What: Unused EXPORT_SYMBOL/EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL exports + (temporary transition config option provided until then) + The transition config option will also be removed at the same time. +When: before 2.6.19 +Why: Unused symbols are both increasing the size of the kernel binary + and are often a sign of "wrong API" +Who: Arjan van de Ven + +--------------------------- + What: remove EXPORT_SYMBOL(tasklist_lock) When: August 2006 Files: kernel/fork.c @@ -224,3 +213,47 @@ Why: The interface no longer has any callers left in the kernel. It Who: Nick Piggin --------------------------- + +What: Support for the MIPS EV96100 evaluation board +When: September 2006 +Why: Does no longer build since at least November 15, 2003, apparently + no userbase left. +Who: Ralf Baechle + +--------------------------- + +What: Support for the Momentum / PMC-Sierra Jaguar ATX evaluation board +When: September 2006 +Why: Does no longer build since quite some time, and was never popular, + due to the platform being replaced by successor models. Apparently + no user base left. It also is one of the last users of + WANT_PAGE_VIRTUAL. +Who: Ralf Baechle + +--------------------------- + +What: Support for the Momentum Ocelot, Ocelot 3, Ocelot C and Ocelot G +When: September 2006 +Why: Some do no longer build and apparently there is no user base left + for these platforms. +Who: Ralf Baechle + +--------------------------- + +What: Support for MIPS Technologies' Altas and SEAD evaluation board +When: September 2006 +Why: Some do no longer build and apparently there is no user base left + for these platforms. Hardware out of production since several years. +Who: Ralf Baechle + +--------------------------- + +What: Support for the IT8172-based platforms, ITE 8172G and Globespan IVR +When: September 2006 +Why: Code does no longer build since at least 2.6.0, apparently there is + no user base left for these platforms. Hardware out of production + since several years and hardly a trace of the manufacturer left on + the net. +Who: Ralf Baechle + +--------------------------- diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/devfs/ChangeLog b/Documentation/filesystems/devfs/ChangeLog deleted file mode 100644 index e5aba5246d7c..000000000000 --- a/Documentation/filesystems/devfs/ChangeLog +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1977 +0,0 @@ -/* -*- auto-fill -*- */ -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v1 - -- creation of devfs - -- modified miscellaneous character devices to support devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v2 - -- bug fix with manual inode creation -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v3 - -- bugfixes - -- documentation improvements - -- created a couple of scripts (one to save&restore a devfs and the - other to set up compatibility symlinks) - -- devfs support for SCSI discs. New name format is: sd_hHcCiIlL -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v4 - -- bugfix for the directory reading code - -- bugfix for compilation with kerneld - -- devfs support for generic hard discs - -- rationalisation of the various watchdog drivers -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v5 - -- support for mounting directly from entries in the devfs (it doesn't - need to be mounted to do this), including the root filesystem. - Mounting of swap partitions also works. Hence, now if you set - CONFIG_DEVFS_ONLY to 'Y' then you won't be able to access your discs - via ordinary device nodes. Naturally, the default is 'N' so that you - can still use your old device nodes. If you want to mount from devfs - entries, make sure you use: append = "root=/dev/sd_..." in your - lilo.conf. It seems LILO looks for the device number (major&minor) - and writes that into the kernel image :-( - -- support for character memory devices (/dev/null, /dev/zero, /dev/full - and so on). Thanks to C. Scott Ananian -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v6 - -- support for subdirectories - -- support for symbolic links (created by devfs_mk_symlink(), no - support yet for creation via symlink(2)) - -- SCSI disc naming now cast in stone, with the format: - /dev/sd/c0b1t2u3 controller=0, bus=1, ID=2, LUN=3, whole disc - /dev/sd/c0b1t2u3p4 controller=0, bus=1, ID=2, LUN=3, 4th partition - -- loop devices now appear in devfs - -- tty devices, console, serial ports, etc. now appear in devfs - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- bugs with mounting devfs-only devices now fixed -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v7 - -- SCSI CD-ROMS, tapes and generic devices now appear in devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v8 - -- bugfix with no-rewind SCSI tapes - -- RAMDISCs now appear in devfs - -- better cleaning up of devfs entries created by various modules - -- interface change to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v9 - -- the v8 patch was corrupted somehow, which would affect the patch for - linux/fs/filesystems.c - I've also fixed the v8 patch file on the WWW - -- MetaDevices (/dev/md*) should now appear in devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v10 - -- bugfix in meta device support for devfs - -- created this ChangeLog file - -- added devfs support to the floppy driver - -- added support for creating sockets in a devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v11 - -- added DEVFS_FL_HIDE_UNREG flag - -- incorporated better patch for ttyname() in libc 5.4.43 from H.J. Lu. - -- interface change to - -- support for creating symlinks with symlink(2) - -- parallel port printer (/dev/lp*) now appears in devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v12 - -- added inode check to function - -- improved devfs support when mounting from devfs - -- added call to <> operation when removing swap areas on - devfs devices - -- increased NR_SUPER to 128 to support large numbers of devfs mounts - (for chroot(2) gaols) - -- fixed bug in SCSI disc support: was generating incorrect minors if - SCSI ID's did not start at 0 and increase by 1 - -- support symlink traversal when mounting root -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v13 - -- added devfs support to soundcard driver - Thanks to Eric Dumas and - C. Scott Ananian - -- added devfs support to the joystick driver - -- loop driver now has it's own subdirectory "/dev/loop/" - -- created and functions - -- fix problem with SCSI disc compatibility names (sd{a,b,c,d,e,f}) - which assumes ID's start at 0 and increase by 1. Also only create - devfs entries for SCSI disc partitions which actually exist - Show new names in partition check - Thanks to Jakub Jelinek -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v14 - -- bug fix in floppy driver: would not compile without - CONFIG_DEVFS_FS='Y' - Thanks to Jurgen Botz - -- bug fix in loop driver - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- do not create devfs entries for printers not configured - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- do not create devfs entries for serial ports not present - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- ensure is exported from tty_io.c - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- allow unregistering of devfs symlink entries - -- fixed bug in SCSI disc naming introduced in last patch version -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v15 - -- ported to kernel 2.1.81 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v16 - -- created function - -- moved DEVFS_SUPER_MAGIC into header file - -- added DEVFS_FL_HIDE flag - -- created - -- created - -- fixed bugs in searching by major&minor - -- changed interface to , and - - -- fixed inode times when symlink created with symlink(2) - -- change tty driver to do auto-creation of devfs entries - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- fixed bug in genhd.c: whole disc (non-SCSI) was not registered to - devfs - -- updated libc 5.4.43 patch for ttyname() -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v17 - -- added CONFIG_DEVFS_TTY_COMPAT - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- bugfix in devfs support for drivers/char/lp.c - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- clean up serial driver so that PCMCIA devices unregister correctly - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- fixed bug in genhd.c: whole disc (non-SCSI) was not registered to - devfs [was missing in patch v16] - -- updated libc 5.4.43 patch for ttyname() [was missing in patch v16] - -- all SCSI devices now registered in /dev/sg - -- support removal of devfs entries via unlink(2) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v18 - -- added floppy/?u720 floppy entry - -- fixed kerneld support for entries in devfs subdirectories - -- incorporated latest patch for ttyname() in libc 5.4.43 from H.J. Lu. -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v19 - -- bug fix when looking up unregistered entries: kerneld was not called - -- fixes for kernel 2.1.86 (now requires 2.1.86) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v20 - -- only create available floppy entries - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz - -- new IDE naming scheme following SCSI format (i.e. /dev/id/c0b0t0u0p1 - instead of /dev/hda1) - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz - -- new XT disc naming scheme following SCSI format (i.e. /dev/xd/c0t0p1 - instead of /dev/xda1) - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz - -- new non-standard CD-ROM names (i.e. /dev/sbp/c#t#) - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz - -- allow symlink traversal when mounting the root filesystem - -- Create entries for MD devices at MD init - Thanks to Christophe Leroy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v21 - -- ported to kernel 2.1.91 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v22 - -- SCSI host number patch ("scsihosts=" kernel option) - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v23 - -- Fixed persistence bug with device numbers for manually created - device files - -- Fixed problem with recreating symlinks with different content - -- Added CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT (mount devfs on /dev at boot time) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v24 - -- Switched from CONFIG_KERNELD to CONFIG_KMOD: module autoloading - should now work again - -- Hide entries which are manually unlinked - -- Always invalidate devfs dentry cache when registering entries - -- Support removal of devfs directories via rmdir(2) - -- Ensure directories created by are visible - -- Default no access for "other" for floppy device -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v25 - -- Updates to CREDITS file and minor IDE numbering change - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz - -- Invalidate devfs dentry cache when making directories - -- Invalidate devfs dentry cache when removing entries - -- More informative message if root FS mount fails when devfs - configured - -- Fixed persistence bug with fifos -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v26 - -- ported to kernel 2.1.97 - -- Changed serial directory from "/dev/serial" to "/dev/tts" and - "/dev/consoles" to "/dev/vc" to be more friendly to new procps -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v27 - -- Added support for IDE4 and IDE5 - Thanks to Andrzej Krzysztofowicz - -- Documented "scsihosts=" boot parameter - -- Print process command when debugging kerneld/kmod - -- Added debugging for register/unregister/change operations - -- Added "devfs=" boot options - -- Hide unregistered entries by default -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v28 - -- No longer lock/unlock superblock in (cope with - recent VFS interface change) - -- Do not automatically change ownership/protection of /dev/tty - -- Drop negative dentries when they are released - -- Manage dcache more efficiently -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v29 - -- Added DEVFS_FL_AUTO_DEVNUM flag -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v30 - -- No longer set unnecessary methods - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.99-pre3 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v31 - -- Added PID display to debugging message - -- Added "diread" and "diwrite" options - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.102 - -- Fixed persistence problem with permissions -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v32 - -- Fixed devfs support in drivers/block/md.c -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v33 - -- Support legacy device nodes - -- Fixed bug where recreated inodes were hidden - -- New IDE naming scheme: everything is under /dev/ide -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v34 - -- Improved debugging in - -- Prevent duplicate calls to in SCSI layer - -- No longer free old dentries in - -- Free all dentries for a given entry when deleting inodes -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v35 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.105 (sound driver changes) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v36 - -- Fixed sound driver port -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v37 - -- Minor documentation tweaks -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v38 - -- More documentation tweaks - -- Fix for sound driver port - -- Removed ttyname-patch (grab libc 5.4.44 instead) - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.107-pre2 (loop driver fix) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v39 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.107 (hd.c hunk broke due to spelling "fixes"). Sigh - -- Removed many #ifdef's, replaced with trickery in include/devfs_fs.h -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v40 - -- Fix for sound driver port - -- Limit auto-device numbering to majors 128 to 239 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v41 - -- Fixed inode times persistence problem -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v42 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.108 (drivers/scsi/hosts.c hunk broke) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v43 - -- Fixed spelling in debug - -- Fixed bug in parsing "dilookup" - -- More #ifdef's removed - -- Supported Sparc keyboard (/dev/kbd) - -- Supported DSP56001 digital signal processor (/dev/dsp56k) - -- Supported Apple Desktop Bus (/dev/adb) - -- Supported Coda network file system (/dev/cfs*) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v44 - -- Fixed devfs inode leak when manually recreating inodes - -- Fixed permission persistence problem when recreating inodes -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v45 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.110 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v46 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.112-pre1 - -- Removed harmless "unused variable" compiler warning - -- Fixed modes for manually recreated device nodes -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v47 - -- Added NULL devfs inode warning in - -- Force all inode nlink values to 1 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v48 - -- Added "dimknod" option - -- Set inode nlink to 0 when freeing dentries - -- Added support for virtual console capture devices (/dev/vcs*) - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Fixed modes for manually recreated symlinks -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v49 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.113 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v50 - -- Fixed bugs in recreated directories and symlinks -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v51 - -- Improved robustness of rc.devfs script - Thanks to Roderich Schupp - -- Fixed bugs in recreated device nodes - -- Fixed bug in currently unused - -- Defined new type - -- Improved debugging when getting entries - -- Fixed bug where directories could be emptied - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.115 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v52 - -- Replaced dummy .epoch inode with .devfsd character device - -- Modified rc.devfs to take account of above change - -- Removed spurious driver warning messages when CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=n - -- Implemented devfsd protocol revision 0 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v53 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.116 (kmod change broke hunk) - -- Updated Documentation/Configure.help - -- Test and tty pattern patch for rc.devfs script - Thanks to Roderich Schupp - -- Added soothing message to warning in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v54 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.117 - -- Fixed default permissions in sound driver - -- Added support for frame buffer devices (/dev/fb*) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v55 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.119 - -- Use GCC extensions for structure initialisations - -- Implemented async open notification - -- Incremented devfsd protocol revision to 1 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v56 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.120-pre3 - -- Moved async open notification to end of -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v57 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.121 - -- Prepended "/dev/" to module load request - -- Renamed to - -- Created sample modules.conf file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v58 - -- Fixed typo "AYSNC" -> "ASYNC" -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v59 - -- Added open flag for files -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v60 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.123-pre2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v61 - -- Set i_blocks=0 and i_blksize=1024 in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v62 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.123 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v63 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.124-pre2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v64 - -- Fixed Unix98 pty support - -- Increased buffer size in to avoid crash and - burn -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v65 - -- More Unix98 pty support fixes - -- Added test for empty <> in - -- Renamed to and published - -- Created /dev/root symlink - Thanks to Roderich Schupp - with further modifications by me -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v66 - -- Yet more Unix98 pty support fixes (now tested) - -- Created - -- Support media change checks when CONFIG_DEVFS_ONLY=y - -- Abolished Unix98-style PTY names for old PTY devices -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v67 - -- Added inline declaration for dummy - -- Removed spurious "unable to register... in devfs" messages when - CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=n - -- Fixed misc. devices when CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=n - -- Limit auto-device numbering to majors 144 to 239 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v68 - -- Hide unopened virtual consoles from directory listings - -- Added support for video capture devices - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.125 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v69 - -- Fix for CONFIG_VT=n -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v70 - -- Added support for non-OSS/Free sound cards -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v71 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.126-pre2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v72 - -- #ifdef's for CONFIG_DEVFS_DISABLE_OLD_NAMES removed -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v73 - -- CONFIG_DEVFS_DISABLE_OLD_NAMES replaced with "nocompat" boot option - -- CONFIG_DEVFS_BOOT_OPTIONS removed: boot options always available -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v74 - -- Removed CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT and "mount" boot option and replaced with - "nomount" boot option - -- Documentation updates - -- Updated sample modules.conf -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v75 - -- Updated sample modules.conf - -- Remount devfs after initrd finishes - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.127 - -- Added support for ISDN - Thanks to Christophe Leroy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v76 - -- Updated an email address in ChangeLog - -- CONFIG_DEVFS_ONLY replaced with "only" boot option -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v77 - -- Added DEVFS_FL_REMOVABLE flag - -- Check for disc change when listing directories with removable media - devices - -- Use DEVFS_FL_REMOVABLE in sd.c - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.128 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v78 - -- Only call on first call to - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.129-pre5 - -- ISDN support improvements - Thanks to Christophe Leroy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v79 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.130 - -- Renamed miscdevice "apm" to "apm_bios" to be consistent with - devices.txt -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v80 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.131 - -- Updated for VFS change in 2.1.131 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v81 - -- Fixed permissions on /dev/ptmx -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v82 - -- Ported to kernel 2.1.132-pre4 - -- Changed initial permissions on /dev/pts/* - -- Created - -- Added "symlinks" boot option - -- Changed devfs_register_blkdev() back to register_blkdev() for IDE - -- Check for partitions on removable media in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v83 - -- Fixed support for ramdisc when using string-based root FS name - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.0-pre1 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v84 - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.0-pre7 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v85 - -- Compile fixes for driver/sound/sound_common.c (non-module) and - drivers/isdn/isdn_common.c - Thanks to Christophe Leroy - -- Added support for registering regular files - -- Created - -- Added /dev/cpu/mtrr as an alternative interface to /proc/mtrr - -- Update devfs inodes from entries if not changed through FS -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v86 - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.0-pre9 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v87 - -- Fixed bug when mounting non-devfs devices in a devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v88 - -- Fixed to only initialise temporary inodes - -- Trap for NULL fops in - -- Return -ENODEV in for non-driver inodes - -- Fixed bug when unswapping non-devfs devices in a devfs -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v89 - -- Switched to C data types in include/linux/devfs_fs.h - -- Switched from PATH_MAX to DEVFS_PATHLEN - -- Updated Documentation/filesystems/devfs/modules.conf to take account - of reverse scanning (!) by modprobe - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.0 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v90 - -- CONFIG_DEVFS_DISABLE_OLD_TTY_NAMES replaced with "nottycompat" boot - option - -- CONFIG_DEVFS_TTY_COMPAT removed: existing "symlinks" boot option now - controls this. This means you must have libc 5.4.44 or later, or a - recent version of libc 6 if you use the "symlinks" option -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v91 - -- Switch from to in - drivers/char/vc_screen.c to fix problems with Midnight Commander -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v92 - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.2-pre5 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v93 - -- Modified in drivers/scsi/sd.c to cope with devices that - don't exist (which happens with new RAID autostart code printk()s) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v94 - -- Fixed bug in joystick driver: only first joystick was registered -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v95 - -- Fixed another bug in joystick driver - -- Fixed to not overrun event buffer -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v96 - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.5-2 - -- Created - -- Fixed bugs: compatibility entries were not unregistered for: - loop driver - floppy driver - RAMDISC driver - IDE tape driver - SCSI CD-ROM driver - SCSI HDD driver -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v97 - -- Fixed bugs: compatibility entries were not unregistered for: - ALSA sound driver - partitions in generic disc driver - -- Don't return unregistred entries in - -- Panic in if entry unregistered - -- Don't panic in for duplicates -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v98 - -- Don't unregister already unregistered entries in - -- Register entry in - -- Unregister entry in - -- Changed to in drivers/char/tty_io.c - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.7 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v99 - -- Ported to kernel 2.2.8 - -- Fixed bug in drivers/scsi/sd.c when >16 SCSI discs - -- Disable warning messages when unable to read partition table for - removable media -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v100 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.1-pre5 - -- Added "oops-on-panic" boot option - -- Improved debugging in and - -- Register entry in - -- Unregister entry in - -- Register entry in - -- Unregister entry in - -- Added support for ALSA drivers -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v101 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v102 - -- Update serial driver to register PCMCIA entries - Thanks to Roch-Alexandre Nomine-Beguin - -- Updated an email address in ChangeLog - -- Hide virtual console capture entries from directory listings when - corresponding console device is not open -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v103 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.3 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v104 - -- Added documentation for some functions - -- Added "doc" target to fs/devfs/Makefile - -- Added "v4l" directory for video4linux devices - -- Replaced call to in with call to - - -- Moved registration for sr and sg drivers from detect() to attach() - methods - -- Register entries in and unregister in - -- Work around IDE driver treating CD-ROM as gendisk - -- Use instead of in rc.devfs - -- Updated ToDo list - -- Removed "oops-on-panic" boot option: now always Oops -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v105 - -- Unregister SCSI host from in - Thanks to Zoltán Böszörményi - -- Don't save /dev/log in rc.devfs - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.4-pre1 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v106 - -- Fixed silly typo in drivers/scsi/st.c - -- Improved debugging in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v107 - -- Added "diunlink" and "nokmod" boot options - -- Removed superfluous warning message in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v108 - -- Remove entries when unloading sound module -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v109 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.6-pre2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v110 - -- Took account of change to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v111 - -- Created separate event queue for each mounted devfs - -- Removed - -- Created new ioctl()s for devfsd - -- Incremented devfsd protocol revision to 3 - -- Fixed bug when re-creating directories: contents were lost - -- Block access to inodes until devfsd updates permissions -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v112 - -- Modified patch so it applies against 2.3.5 and 2.3.6 - -- Updated an email address in ChangeLog - -- Do not automatically change ownership/protection of /dev/tty - -- Updated sample modules.conf - -- Switched to sending process uid/gid to devfsd - -- Renamed to - -- Added DEVFSD_NOTIFY_LOOKUP event - -- Added DEVFSD_NOTIFY_CHANGE event - -- Added DEVFSD_NOTIFY_CREATE event - -- Incremented devfsd protocol revision to 4 - -- Moved kernel-specific stuff to include/linux/devfs_fs_kernel.h -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v113 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.9 - -- Restricted permissions on some block devices -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v114 - -- Added support for /dev/netlink - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Return EISDIR rather than EINVAL for read(2) on directories - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.10 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v115 - -- Added support for all remaining character devices - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Cleaned up netlink support -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v116 - -- Added support for /dev/parport%d - Thanks to Tim Waugh - -- Fixed parallel port ATAPI tape driver - -- Fixed Atari SLM laser printer driver -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v117 - -- Added support for COSA card - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Fixed drivers/char/ppdev.c: missing #include - -- Fixed drivers/char/ftape/zftape/zftape-init.c - Thanks to Vladimir Popov -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v118 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.15-pre3 - -- Fixed bug in loop driver - -- Unregister /dev/lp%d entries in drivers/char/lp.c - Thanks to Maciej W. Rozycki -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v119 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.16 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v120 - -- Fixed bug in drivers/scsi/scsi.c - -- Added /dev/ppp - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.17 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v121 - -- Fixed bug in drivers/block/loop.c - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.18 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v122 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.19 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v123 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.20 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v124 - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.21 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v125 - -- Created , , - and - Added <> parameter to , , - and - Work sponsored by SGI - -- Fixed apparent bug in COSA driver - -- Re-instated "scsihosts=" boot option -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v126 - -- Always create /dev/pts if CONFIG_UNIX98_PTYS=y - -- Fixed call to in drivers/block/ide-disk.c - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Allow multiple unregistrations - -- Created /dev/scsi hierarchy - Work sponsored by SGI -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v127 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- No longer disable devpts if devfs enabled (caveat emptor) - -- Added flags array to struct gendisk and removed code from - drivers/scsi/sd.c - -- Created /dev/discs hierarchy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v128 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Created /dev/cdroms hierarchy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v129 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed compatibility entries for sound devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for printer devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for video4linux devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for parallel port devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for frame buffer devices -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v130 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Added major and minor number to devfsd protocol - -- Incremented devfsd protocol revision to 5 - -- Removed compatibility entries for SoundBlaster CD-ROMs - -- Removed compatibility entries for netlink devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for SCSI generic devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for SCSI tape devices -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v131 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Support info pointer for all devfs entry types - -- Added <> parameter to and - -- Removed /dev/st hierarchy - -- Removed /dev/sg hierarchy - -- Removed compatibility entries for loop devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for IDE tape devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for SCSI CD-ROMs - -- Removed /dev/sr hierarchy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v132 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed compatibility entries for floppy devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for RAMDISCs - -- Removed compatibility entries for meta-devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for SCSI discs - -- Created - -- Removed /dev/sd hierarchy - -- Support "../" when searching devfs namespace - -- Created /dev/ide/host* hierarchy - -- Supported IDE hard discs in /dev/ide/host* hierarchy - -- Removed compatibility entries for IDE discs - -- Removed /dev/ide/hd hierarchy - -- Supported IDE CD-ROMs in /dev/ide/host* hierarchy - -- Removed compatibility entries for IDE CD-ROMs - -- Removed /dev/ide/cd hierarchy -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v133 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Created - -- Fixed bug in fs/partitions/check.c when rescanning -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v134 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed /dev/sd, /dev/sr, /dev/st and /dev/sg directories - -- Removed /dev/ide/hd directory - -- Exported - -- Created and /dev/tapes hierarchy - -- Removed /dev/ide/mt hierarchy - -- Removed /dev/ide/fd hierarchy - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.25 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v135 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed compatibility entries for virtual console capture devices - -- Removed unused - -- Removed compatibility entries for serial devices - -- Removed compatibility entries for console devices - -- Do not hide entries from devfsd or children - -- Removed DEVFS_FL_TTY_COMPAT flag - -- Removed "nottycompat" boot option - -- Removed -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v136 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Moved BSD pty devices to /dev/pty - -- Added DEVFS_FL_WAIT flag -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v137 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Really fixed bug in fs/partitions/check.c when rescanning - -- Support new "disc" naming scheme in - -- Allow NULL fops in - -- Removed redundant name functions in SCSI disc and IDE drivers -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v138 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Fixed old bugs in drivers/block/paride/pt.c, drivers/char/tpqic02.c, - drivers/net/wan/cosa.c and drivers/scsi/scsi.c - Thanks to Sergey Kubushin - -- Fall back to major table if NULL fops given to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v139 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Corrected and moved and declarations - from arch/alpha/kernel/osf_sys.c to include/linux/fs.h - -- Removed name function from struct gendisk - -- Updated devfs FAQ -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v140 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.27 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v141 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Bug fix in arch/m68k/atari/joystick.c - -- Moved ISDN and capi devices to /dev/isdn -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v142 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Bug fix in drivers/block/ide-probe.c (patch confusion) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v143 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Bug fix in drivers/block/blkpg.c:partition_name() -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v144 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.29 - -- Removed calls to from cdu31a, cm206, mcd and mcdx - CD-ROM drivers: generic driver handles this now - -- Moved joystick devices to /dev/joysticks -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v145 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.30-pre3 - -- Register whole-disc entry even for invalid partition tables - -- Fixed bug in mounting root FS when initrd enabled - -- Fixed device entry leak with IDE CD-ROMs - -- Fixed compile problem with drivers/isdn/isdn_common.c - -- Moved COSA devices to /dev/cosa - -- Support fifos when unregistering - -- Created and used in many drivers - -- Moved Coda devices to /dev/coda - -- Moved parallel port IDE tapes to /dev/pt - -- Moved parallel port IDE generic devices to /dev/pg -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v146 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed obsolete DEVFS_FL_COMPAT and DEVFS_FL_TOLERANT flags - -- Fixed compile problem with fs/coda/psdev.c - -- Reinstate change to in - drivers/block/ide-probe.c now that fs/isofs/inode.c is fixed - -- Switched to in drivers/block/floppy.c, - drivers/scsi/sr.c and drivers/block/md.c - -- Moved DAC960 devices to /dev/dac960 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v147 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.32-pre4 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v148 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed kmod support: use devfsd instead - -- Moved miscellaneous character devices to /dev/misc -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v149 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ensure include/linux/joystick.h is OK for user-space - -- Improved debugging in - -- Ensure dentries created by devfsd will be cleaned up -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v150 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.34 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v151 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.35-pre1 - -- Created -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v152 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Updated sample modules.conf - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.36-pre1 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v153 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.42 - -- Removed -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v154 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Took account of device number changes for /dev/fb* -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v155 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.43-pre8 - -- Moved /dev/tty0 to /dev/vc/0 - -- Moved sequence number formatting from <_tty_make_name> to drivers -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v156 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Fixed breakage in drivers/scsi/sd.c due to recent SCSI changes -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v157 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.45 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v158 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.46-pre2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v159 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Fixed drivers/block/md.c - Thanks to Mike Galbraith - -- Documentation fixes - -- Moved device registration from to - Thanks to Tim Waugh -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v160 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Fixed drivers/char/joystick/joystick.c - Thanks to Vojtech Pavlik - -- Documentation updates - -- Fixed arch/i386/kernel/mtrr.c if procfs and devfs not enabled - -- Fixed drivers/char/stallion.c -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v161 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Remove /dev/ide when ide-mod is unloaded - -- Fixed bug in drivers/block/ide-probe.c when secondary but no primary - -- Added DEVFS_FL_NO_PERSISTENCE flag - -- Used new DEVFS_FL_NO_PERSISTENCE flag for Unix98 pty slaves - -- Removed unnecessary call to in - - -- Only set auto-ownership for /dev/pty/s* -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v162 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Set inode->i_size to correct size for symlinks - Thanks to Jeremy Fitzhardinge - -- Only give lookup() method to directories to comply with new VFS - assumptions - -- Remove unnecessary tests in symlink methods - -- Don't kill existing block ops in - -- Restore auto-ownership for /dev/pty/m* -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v163 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Don't create missing directories in - -- Removed Documentation/filesystems/devfs/mk-devlinks - -- Updated Documentation/filesystems/devfs/README -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v164 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Fixed CONFIG_DEVFS breakage in drivers/char/serial.c introduced in - linux-2.3.99-pre6-7 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v165 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Ported to kernel 2.3.99-pre6 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v166 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Added CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v167 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Updated Documentation/filesystems/devfs/README - -- Updated sample modules.conf -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v168 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Disabled multi-mount capability (use VFS bindings instead) - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v169 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Removed multi-mount code - -- Removed compatibility macros: VFS has changed too much -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v170 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Merged devfs inode into devfs entry -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v171 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Updated sample modules.conf - -- Removed dead code in which used to call - - -- Ported to kernel 2.4.0-test2-pre3 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v172 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Changed interface to - -- Changed interface to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v173 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Simplified interface to - -- Simplified interface to - -- Simplified interface to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v174 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v175 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- DocBook update for fs/devfs/base.c - Thanks to Tim Waugh - -- Removed stale fs/tunnel.c (was never used or completed) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v176 - -Work sponsored by SGI - -- Updated ToDo list - -- Removed sample modules.conf: now distributed with devfsd - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Ported to kernel 2.4.0-test3-pre4 (which had devfs-patch-v174) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v177 - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Documentation cleanups - -- Ensure terminates string for root entry - Thanks to Tim Jansen - -- Exported to modules - -- Make send events to devfsd - -- Cleaned up option processing in - -- Fixed bugs in handling symlinks: could leak or cause Oops - -- Cleaned up directory handling by separating fops - Thanks to Alexander Viro -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v178 - -- Fixed handling of inverted options in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v179 - -- Adjusted to account for fix -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v180 - -- Fixed !CONFIG_DEVFS_FS stub declaration of -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v181 - -- Answered question posed by Al Viro and removed his comments from - -- Moved setting of registered flag after other fields are changed - -- Fixed race between and - -- Global VFS changes added bogus BKL to devfsd_close(): removed - -- Widened locking in and - -- Replaced stack usage with kmalloc - -- Simplified locking in and fixed memory leak -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v182 - -- Created and - -- Removed broken devnum allocation and use - -- Fixed old devnum leak by calling new - -- Created - -- Fixed number leak for /dev/cdroms/cdrom%d - -- Fixed number leak for /dev/discs/disc%d -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v183 - -- Fixed bug in which could hang boot process -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v184 - -- Documentation typo fix for fs/devfs/util.c - -- Fixed drivers/char/stallion.c for devfs - -- Added DEVFSD_NOTIFY_DELETE event - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Removed #include from fs/devfs/base.c -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v185 - -- Made and in fs/devfs/util.c - private - -- Fixed inode table races by removing it and using inode->u.generic_ip - instead - -- Moved into - -- Moved into -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v186 - -- Fixed race in for uni-processor - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v187 - -- Fixed drivers/char/stallion.c for devfs - -- Fixed drivers/char/rocket.c for devfs - -- Fixed bug in : limited to 128 numbers -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v188 - -- Updated major masks in fs/devfs/util.c up to Linus' "no new majors" - proclamation. Block: were 126 now 122 free, char: were 26 now 19 free - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Removed remnant of multi-mount support in - -- Removed unused DEVFS_FL_SHOW_UNREG flag -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v189 - -- Removed nlink field from struct devfs_inode - -- Removed auto-ownership for /dev/pty/* (BSD ptys) and used - DEVFS_FL_CURRENT_OWNER|DEVFS_FL_NO_PERSISTENCE for /dev/pty/s* (just - like Unix98 pty slaves) and made /dev/pty/m* rw-rw-rw- access -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v190 - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Replaced BKL with global rwsem to protect symlink data (quick and - dirty hack) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v191 - -- Replaced global rwsem for symlink with per-link refcount -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v192 - -- Removed unnecessary #ifdef CONFIG_DEVFS_FS from arch/i386/kernel/mtrr.c - -- Ported to kernel 2.4.10-pre11 - -- Set inode->i_mapping->a_ops for block nodes in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v193 - -- Went back to global rwsem for symlinks (refcount scheme no good) -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v194 - -- Fixed overrun in by removing function (not needed) - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v195 - -- Fixed buffer underrun in - -- Moved down_read() from to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v196 - -- Fixed race in when setting event mask - Thanks to Kari Hurtta - -- Avoid deadlock in by using temporary buffer -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v197 - -- First release of new locking code for devfs core (v1.0) - -- Fixed bug in drivers/cdrom/cdrom.c -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v198 - -- Discard temporary buffer, now use "%s" for dentry names - -- Don't generate path in : use fake entry instead - -- Use "existing" directory in <_devfs_make_parent_for_leaf> - -- Use slab cache rather than fixed buffer for devfsd events -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v199 - -- Removed obsolete usage of DEVFS_FL_NO_PERSISTENCE - -- Send DEVFSD_NOTIFY_REGISTERED events in - -- Fixed locking bug in due to typo - -- Do not send CREATE, CHANGE, ASYNC_OPEN or DELETE events from devfsd - or children -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v200 - -- Ported to kernel 2.5.1-pre2 -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v201 - -- Fixed bug in : was dereferencing freed pointer -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v202 - -- Fixed bug in : was dereferencing freed pointer - -- Added process group check for devfsd privileges -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v203 - -- Use SLAB_ATOMIC in from -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v204 - -- Removed long obsolete rc.devfs - -- Return old entry in for 2.4.x kernels - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Increment refcount on module in - -- Created and exported - -- Increment refcount on module in - -- Created and used where needed to fix races - -- Added clarifying comments in response to preliminary EMC code review - -- Added poisoning to - -- Improved debugging messages - -- Fixed unregister bugs in drivers/md/lvm-fs.c -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v205 - -- Corrected (made useful) debugging message in - -- Moved in to - -- Fixed drivers/md/lvm-fs.c to create "lvm" entry - -- Added magic number to guard against scribbling drivers - -- Only return old entry in if a directory - -- Defined macros for error and debug messages - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v206 - -- Added support for multiple Compaq cpqarray controllers - -- Fixed (rare, old) race in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v207 - -- Fixed deadlock bug in - -- Tag VFS deletable in if handle ignored - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v208 - -- Added KERN_* to remaining messages - -- Cleaned up declaration of - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v209 - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Removed silently introduced calls to lock_kernel() and - unlock_kernel() due to recent VFS locking changes. BKL isn't - required in devfs - -- Changed to allow later additions if not yet empty - -- Added calls to in drivers/block/blkpc.c - and - -- Fixed bug in : was clearing beyond - bitfield - -- Fixed bitfield data type for - -- Made major bitfield type and initialiser 64 bit safe -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v210 - -- Updated fs/devfs/util.c to fix shift warning on 64 bit machines - Thanks to Anton Blanchard - -- Updated README from master HTML file -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v211 - -- Do not put miscellaneous character devices in /dev/misc if they - specify their own directory (i.e. contain a '/' character) - -- Copied macro for error messages from fs/devfs/base.c to - fs/devfs/util.c and made use of this macro - -- Removed 2.4.x compatibility code from fs/devfs/base.c -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v212 - -- Added BKL to because drivers still need it -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v213 - -- Protected and - from changing directory contents -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v214 - -- Switched to ISO C structure field initialisers - -- Switch to set_current_state() and move before add_wait_queue() - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Fixed devfs entry leak in when *readdir fails -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v215 - -- Created - -- Switched many functions from to - - -- Switched many functions from to -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v216 - -- Switched arch/ia64/sn/io/hcl.c from to - - -- Removed deprecated -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v217 - -- Exported and to modules - -- Updated README from master HTML file - -- Fixed module unload race in -=============================================================================== -Changes for patch v218 - -- Removed DEVFS_FL_AUTO_OWNER flag - -- Switched lingering structure field initialiser to ISO C - -- Added locking when setting/clearing flags - -- Documentation fix in fs/devfs/util.c diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/devfs/README b/Documentation/filesystems/devfs/README deleted file mode 100644 index aabfba24bc2e..000000000000 --- a/Documentation/filesystems/devfs/README +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1959 +0,0 @@ -Devfs (Device File System) FAQ - - -Linux Devfs (Device File System) FAQ -Richard Gooch -20-AUG-2002 - - -Document languages: - - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - -NOTE: the master copy of this document is available online at: - -http://www.atnf.csiro.au/~rgooch/linux/docs/devfs.html -and looks much better than the text version distributed with the -kernel sources. A mirror site is available at: - -http://www.ras.ucalgary.ca/~rgooch/linux/docs/devfs.html - -There is also an optional daemon that may be used with devfs. You can -find out more about it at: - -http://www.atnf.csiro.au/~rgooch/linux/ - -A mailing list is available which you may subscribe to. Send -email -to majordomo@oss.sgi.com with the following line in the -body of the message: -subscribe devfs -To unsubscribe, send the message body: -unsubscribe devfs -instead. The list is archived at - -http://oss.sgi.com/projects/devfs/archive/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - -Contents - - -What is it? - -Why do it? - -Who else does it? - -How it works - -Operational issues (essential reading) - -Instructions for the impatient -Permissions persistence across reboots -Dealing with drivers without devfs support -All the way with Devfs -Other Issues -Kernel Naming Scheme -Devfsd Naming Scheme -Old Compatibility Names -SCSI Host Probing Issues - - - -Device drivers currently ported - -Allocation of Device Numbers - -Questions and Answers - -Making things work -Alternatives to devfs -What I don't like about devfs -How to report bugs -Strange kernel messages -Compilation problems with devfsd - - -Other resources - -Translations of this document - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -What is it? - -Devfs is an alternative to "real" character and block special devices -on your root filesystem. Kernel device drivers can register devices by -name rather than major and minor numbers. These devices will appear in -devfs automatically, with whatever default ownership and -protection the driver specified. A daemon (devfsd) can be used to -override these defaults. Devfs has been in the kernel since 2.3.46. - -NOTE that devfs is entirely optional. If you prefer the old -disc-based device nodes, then simply leave CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=n (the -default). In this case, nothing will change. ALSO NOTE that if you do -enable devfs, the defaults are such that full compatibility is -maintained with the old devices names. - -There are two aspects to devfs: one is the underlying device -namespace, which is a namespace just like any mounted filesystem. The -other aspect is the filesystem code which provides a view of the -device namespace. The reason I make a distinction is because devfs -can be mounted many times, with each mount showing the same device -namespace. Changes made are global to all mounted devfs filesystems. -Also, because the devfs namespace exists without any devfs mounts, you -can easily mount the root filesystem by referring to an entry in the -devfs namespace. - - -The cost of devfs is a small increase in kernel code size and memory -usage. About 7 pages of code (some of that in __init sections) and 72 -bytes for each entry in the namespace. A modest system has only a -couple of hundred device entries, so this costs a few more -pages. Compare this with the suggestion to put /dev on a ramdisc. - -On a typical machine, the cost is under 0.2 percent. On a modest -system with 64 MBytes of RAM, the cost is under 0.1 percent. The -accusations of "bloatware" levelled at devfs are not justified. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -Why do it? - -There are several problems that devfs addresses. Some of these -problems are more serious than others (depending on your point of -view), and some can be solved without devfs. However, the totality of -these problems really calls out for devfs. - -The choice is a patchwork of inefficient user space solutions, which -are complex and likely to be fragile, or to use a simple and efficient -devfs which is robust. - -There have been many counter-proposals to devfs, all seeking to -provide some of the benefits without actually implementing devfs. So -far there has been an absence of code and no proposed alternative has -been able to provide all the features that devfs does. Further, -alternative proposals require far more complexity in user-space (and -still deliver less functionality than devfs). Some people have the -mantra of reducing "kernel bloat", but don't consider the effects on -user-space. - -A good solution limits the total complexity of kernel-space and -user-space. - - -Major&minor allocation - -The existing scheme requires the allocation of major and minor device -numbers for each and every device. This means that a central -co-ordinating authority is required to issue these device numbers -(unless you're developing a "private" device driver), in order to -preserve uniqueness. Devfs shifts the burden to a namespace. This may -not seem like a huge benefit, but actually it is. Since driver authors -will naturally choose a device name which reflects the functionality -of the device, there is far less potential for namespace conflict. -Solving this requires a kernel change. - -/dev management - -Because you currently access devices through device nodes, these must -be created by the system administrator. For standard devices you can -usually find a MAKEDEV programme which creates all these (hundreds!) -of nodes. This means that changes in the kernel must be reflected by -changes in the MAKEDEV programme, or else the system administrator -creates device nodes by hand. - -The basic problem is that there are two separate databases of -major and minor numbers. One is in the kernel and one is in /dev (or -in a MAKEDEV programme, if you want to look at it that way). This is -duplication of information, which is not good practice. -Solving this requires a kernel change. - -/dev growth - -A typical /dev has over 1200 nodes! Most of these devices simply don't -exist because the hardware is not available. A huge /dev increases the -time to access devices (I'm just referring to the dentry lookup times -and the time taken to read inodes off disc: the next subsection shows -some more horrors). - -An example of how big /dev can grow is if we consider SCSI devices: - -host 6 bits (say up to 64 hosts on a really big machine) -channel 4 bits (say up to 16 SCSI buses per host) -id 4 bits -lun 3 bits -partition 6 bits -TOTAL 23 bits - - -This requires 8 Mega (1024*1024) inodes if we want to store all -possible device nodes. Even if we scrap everything but id,partition -and assume a single host adapter with a single SCSI bus and only one -logical unit per SCSI target (id), that's still 10 bits or 1024 -inodes. Each VFS inode takes around 256 bytes (kernel 2.1.78), so -that's 256 kBytes of inode storage on disc (assuming real inodes take -a similar amount of space as VFS inodes). This is actually not so bad, -because disc is cheap these days. Embedded systems would care about -256 kBytes of /dev inodes, but you could argue that embedded systems -would have hand-tuned /dev directories. I've had to do just that on my -embedded systems, but I would rather just leave it to devfs. - -Another issue is the time taken to lookup an inode when first -referenced. Not only does this take time in scanning through a list in -memory, but also the seek times to read the inodes off disc. -This could be solved in user-space using a clever programme which -scanned the kernel logs and deleted /dev entries which are not -available and created them when they were available. This programme -would need to be run every time a new module was loaded, which would -slow things down a lot. - -There is an existing programme called scsidev which will automatically -create device nodes for SCSI devices. It can do this by scanning files -in /proc/scsi. Unfortunately, to extend this idea to other device -nodes would require significant modifications to existing drivers (so -they too would provide information in /proc). This is a non-trivial -change (I should know: devfs has had to do something similar). Once -you go to this much effort, you may as well use devfs itself (which -also provides this information). Furthermore, such a system would -likely be implemented in an ad-hoc fashion, as different drivers will -provide their information in different ways. - -Devfs is much cleaner, because it (naturally) has a uniform mechanism -to provide this information: the device nodes themselves! - - -Node to driver file_operations translation - -There is an important difference between the way disc-based character -and block nodes and devfs entries make the connection between an entry -in /dev and the actual device driver. - -With the current 8 bit major and minor numbers the connection between -disc-based c&b nodes and per-major drivers is done through a -fixed-length table of 128 entries. The various filesystem types set -the inode operations for c&b nodes to {chr,blk}dev_inode_operations, -so when a device is opened a few quick levels of indirection bring us -to the driver file_operations. - -For miscellaneous character devices a second step is required: there -is a scan for the driver entry with the same minor number as the file -that was opened, and the appropriate minor open method is called. This -scanning is done *every time* you open a device node. Potentially, you -may be searching through dozens of misc. entries before you find your -open method. While not an enormous performance overhead, this does -seem pointless. - -Linux *must* move beyond the 8 bit major and minor barrier, -somehow. If we simply increase each to 16 bits, then the indexing -scheme used for major driver lookup becomes untenable, because the -major tables (one each for character and block devices) would need to -be 64 k entries long (512 kBytes on x86, 1 MByte for 64 bit -systems). So we would have to use a scheme like that used for -miscellaneous character devices, which means the search time goes up -linearly with the average number of major device drivers on your -system. Not all "devices" are hardware, some are higher-level drivers -like KGI, so you can get more "devices" without adding hardware -You can improve this by creating an ordered (balanced:-) -binary tree, in which case your search time becomes log(N). -Alternatively, you can use hashing to speed up the search. -But why do that search at all if you don't have to? Once again, it -seems pointless. - -Note that devfs doesn't use the major&minor system. For devfs -entries, the connection is done when you lookup the /dev entry. When -devfs_register() is called, an internal table is appended which has -the entry name and the file_operations. If the dentry cache doesn't -have the /dev entry already, this internal table is scanned to get the -file_operations, and an inode is created. If the dentry cache already -has the entry, there is *no lookup time* (other than the dentry scan -itself, but we can't avoid that anyway, and besides Linux dentries -cream other OS's which don't have them:-). Furthermore, the number of -node entries in a devfs is only the number of available device -entries, not the number of *conceivable* entries. Even if you remove -unnecessary entries in a disc-based /dev, the number of conceivable -entries remains the same: you just limit yourself in order to save -space. - -Devfs provides a fast connection between a VFS node and the device -driver, in a scalable way. - -/dev as a system administration tool - -Right now /dev contains a list of conceivable devices, most of which I -don't have. Devfs only shows those devices available on my -system. This means that listing /dev is a handy way of checking what -devices are available. - -Major&minor size - -Existing major and minor numbers are limited to 8 bits each. This is -now a limiting factor for some drivers, particularly the SCSI disc -driver, which consumes a single major number. Only 16 discs are -supported, and each disc may have only 15 partitions. Maybe this isn't -a problem for you, but some of us are building huge Linux systems with -disc arrays. With devfs an arbitrary pointer can be associated with -each device entry, which can be used to give an effective 32 bit -device identifier (i.e. that's like having a 32 bit minor -number). Since this is private to the kernel, there are no C library -compatibility issues which you would have with increasing major and -minor number sizes. See the section on "Allocation of Device Numbers" -for details on maintaining compatibility with userspace. - -Solving this requires a kernel change. - -Since writing this, the kernel has been modified so that the SCSI disc -driver has more major numbers allocated to it and now supports up to -128 discs. Since these major numbers are non-contiguous (a result of -unplanned expansion), the implementation is a little more cumbersome -than originally. - -Just like the changes to IPv4 to fix impending limitations in the -address space, people find ways around the limitations. In the long -run, however, solutions like IPv6 or devfs can't be put off forever. - -Read-only root filesystem - -Having your device nodes on the root filesystem means that you can't -operate properly with a read-only root filesystem. This is because you -want to change ownerships and protections of tty devices. Existing -practice prevents you using a CD-ROM as your root filesystem for a -*real* system. Sure, you can boot off a CD-ROM, but you can't change -tty ownerships, so it's only good for installing. - -Also, you can't use a shared NFS root filesystem for a cluster of -discless Linux machines (having tty ownerships changed on a common -/dev is not good). Nor can you embed your root filesystem in a -ROM-FS. - -You can get around this by creating a RAMDISC at boot time, making -an ext2 filesystem in it, mounting it somewhere and copying the -contents of /dev into it, then unmounting it and mounting it over -/dev. - -A devfs is a cleaner way of solving this. - -Non-Unix root filesystem - -Non-Unix filesystems (such as NTFS) can't be used for a root -filesystem because they variously don't support character and block -special files or symbolic links. You can't have a separate disc-based -or RAMDISC-based filesystem mounted on /dev because you need device -nodes before you can mount these. Devfs can be mounted without any -device nodes. Devlinks won't work because symlinks aren't supported. -An alternative solution is to use initrd to mount a RAMDISC initial -root filesystem (which is populated with a minimal set of device -nodes), and then construct a new /dev in another RAMDISC, and finally -switch to your non-Unix root filesystem. This requires clever boot -scripts and a fragile and conceptually complex boot procedure. - -Devfs solves this in a robust and conceptually simple way. - -PTY security - -Current pseudo-tty (pty) devices are owned by root and read-writable -by everyone. The user of a pty-pair cannot change -ownership/protections without being suid-root. - -This could be solved with a secure user-space daemon which runs as -root and does the actual creation of pty-pairs. Such a daemon would -require modification to *every* programme that wants to use this new -mechanism. It also slows down creation of pty-pairs. - -An alternative is to create a new open_pty() syscall which does much -the same thing as the user-space daemon. Once again, this requires -modifications to pty-handling programmes. - -The devfs solution allows a device driver to "tag" certain device -files so that when an unopened device is opened, the ownerships are -changed to the current euid and egid of the opening process, and the -protections are changed to the default registered by the driver. When -the device is closed ownership is set back to root and protections are -set back to read-write for everybody. No programme need be changed. -The devpts filesystem provides this auto-ownership feature for Unix98 -ptys. It doesn't support old-style pty devices, nor does it have all -the other features of devfs. - -Intelligent device management - -Devfs implements a simple yet powerful protocol for communication with -a device management daemon (devfsd) which runs in user space. It is -possible to send a message (either synchronously or asynchronously) to -devfsd on any event, such as registration/unregistration of device -entries, opening and closing devices, looking up inodes, scanning -directories and more. This has many possibilities. Some of these are -already implemented. See: - - -http://www.atnf.csiro.au/~rgooch/linux/ - -Device entry registration events can be used by devfsd to change -permissions of newly-created device nodes. This is one mechanism to -control device permissions. - -Device entry registration/unregistration events can be used to run -programmes or scripts. This can be used to provide automatic mounting -of filesystems when a new block device media is inserted into the -drive. - -Asynchronous device open and close events can be used to implement -clever permissions management. For example, the default permissions on -/dev/dsp do not allow everybody to read from the device. This is -sensible, as you don't want some remote user recording what you say at -your console. However, the console user is also prevented from -recording. This behaviour is not desirable. With asynchronous device -open and close events, you can have devfsd run a programme or script -when console devices are opened to change the ownerships for *other* -device nodes (such as /dev/dsp). On closure, you can run a different -script to restore permissions. An advantage of this scheme over -modifying the C library tty handling is that this works even if your -programme crashes (how many times have you seen the utmp database with -lingering entries for non-existent logins?). - -Synchronous device open events can be used to perform intelligent -device access protections. Before the device driver open() method is -called, the daemon must first validate the open attempt, by running an -external programme or script. This is far more flexible than access -control lists, as access can be determined on the basis of other -system conditions instead of just the UID and GID. - -Inode lookup events can be used to authenticate module autoload -requests. Instead of using kmod directly, the event is sent to -devfsd which can implement an arbitrary authentication before loading -the module itself. - -Inode lookup events can also be used to construct arbitrary -namespaces, without having to resort to populating devfs with symlinks -to devices that don't exist. - -Speculative Device Scanning - -Consider an application (like cdparanoia) that wants to find all -CD-ROM devices on the system (SCSI, IDE and other types), whether or -not their respective modules are loaded. The application must -speculatively open certain device nodes (such as /dev/sr0 for the SCSI -CD-ROMs) in order to make sure the module is loaded. This requires -that all Linux distributions follow the standard device naming scheme -(last time I looked RedHat did things differently). Devfs solves the -naming problem. - -The same application also wants to see which devices are actually -available on the system. With the existing system it needs to read the -/dev directory and speculatively open each /dev/sr* device to -determine if the device exists or not. With a large /dev this is an -inefficient operation, especially if there are many /dev/sr* nodes. A -solution like scsidev could reduce the number of /dev/sr* entries (but -of course that also requires all that inefficient directory scanning). - -With devfs, the application can open the /dev/sr directory -(which triggers the module autoloading if required), and proceed to -read /dev/sr. Since only the available devices will have -entries, there are no inefficencies in directory scanning or device -openings. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - -Who else does it? - -FreeBSD has a devfs implementation. Solaris and AIX each have a -pseudo-devfs (something akin to scsidev but for all devices, with some -unspecified kernel support). BeOS, Plan9 and QNX also have it. SGI's -IRIX 6.4 and above also have a device filesystem. - -While we shouldn't just automatically do something because others do -it, we should not ignore the work of others either. FreeBSD has a lot -of competent people working on it, so their opinion should not be -blithely ignored. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -How it works - -Registering device entries - -For every entry (device node) in a devfs-based /dev a driver must call -devfs_register(). This adds the name of the device entry, the -file_operations structure pointer and a few other things to an -internal table. Device entries may be added and removed at any -time. When a device entry is registered, it automagically appears in -any mounted devfs'. - -Inode lookup - -When a lookup operation on an entry is performed and if there is no -driver information for that entry devfs will attempt to call -devfsd. If still no driver information can be found then a negative -dentry is yielded and the next stage operation will be called by the -VFS (such as create() or mknod() inode methods). If driver information -can be found, an inode is created (if one does not exist already) and -all is well. - -Manually creating device nodes - -The mknod() method allows you to create an ordinary named pipe in the -devfs, or you can create a character or block special inode if one -does not already exist. You may wish to create a character or block -special inode so that you can set permissions and ownership. Later, if -a device driver registers an entry with the same name, the -permissions, ownership and times are retained. This is how you can set -the protections on a device even before the driver is loaded. Once you -create an inode it appears in the directory listing. - -Unregistering device entries - -A device driver calls devfs_unregister() to unregister an entry. - -Chroot() gaols - -2.2.x kernels - -The semantics of inode creation are different when devfs is mounted -with the "explicit" option. Now, when a device entry is registered, it -will not appear until you use mknod() to create the device. It doesn't -matter if you mknod() before or after the device is registered with -devfs_register(). The purpose of this behaviour is to support -chroot(2) gaols, where you want to mount a minimal devfs inside the -gaol. Only the devices you specifically want to be available (through -your mknod() setup) will be accessible. - -2.4.x kernels - -As of kernel 2.3.99, the VFS has had the ability to rebind parts of -the global filesystem namespace into another part of the namespace. -This now works even at the leaf-node level, which means that -individual files and device nodes may be bound into other parts of the -namespace. This is like making links, but better, because it works -across filesystems (unlike hard links) and works through chroot() -gaols (unlike symbolic links). - -Because of these improvements to the VFS, the multi-mount capability -in devfs is no longer needed. The administrator may create a minimal -device tree inside a chroot(2) gaol by using VFS bindings. As this -provides most of the features of the devfs multi-mount capability, I -removed the multi-mount support code (after issuing an RFC). This -yielded code size reductions and simplifications. - -If you want to construct a minimal chroot() gaol, the following -command should suffice: - -mount --bind /dev/null /gaol/dev/null - - -Repeat for other device nodes you want to expose. Simple! - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -Operational issues - - -Instructions for the impatient - -Nobody likes reading documentation. People just want to get in there -and play. So this section tells you quickly the steps you need to take -to run with devfs mounted over /dev. Skip these steps and you will end -up with a nearly unbootable system. Subsequent sections describe the -issues in more detail, and discuss non-essential configuration -options. - -Devfsd -OK, if you're reading this, I assume you want to play with -devfs. First you should ensure that /usr/src/linux contains a -recent kernel source tree. Then you need to compile devfsd, the device -management daemon, available at - -http://www.atnf.csiro.au/~rgooch/linux/. -Because the kernel has a naming scheme -which is quite different from the old naming scheme, you need to -install devfsd so that software and configuration files that use the -old naming scheme will not break. - -Compile and install devfsd. You will be provided with a default -configuration file /etc/devfsd.conf which will provide -compatibility symlinks for the old naming scheme. Don't change this -config file unless you know what you're doing. Even if you think you -do know what you're doing, don't change it until you've followed all -the steps below and booted a devfs-enabled system and verified that it -works. - -Now edit your main system boot script so that devfsd is started at the -very beginning (before any filesystem -checks). /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit is often the main boot script -on systems with SysV-style boot scripts. On systems with BSD-style -boot scripts it is often /etc/rc. Also check -/sbin/rc. - -NOTE that the line you put into the boot -script should be exactly: - -/sbin/devfsd /dev - -DO NOT use some special daemon-launching -programme, otherwise the boot script may not wait for devfsd to finish -initialising. - -System Libraries -There may still be some problems because of broken software making -assumptions about device names. In particular, some software does not -handle devices which are symbolic links. If you are running a libc 5 -based system, install libc 5.4.44 (if you have libc 5.4.46, go back to -libc 5.4.44, which is actually correct). If you are running a glibc -based system, make sure you have glibc 2.1.3 or later. - -/etc/securetty -PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) is supposed to be a flexible -mechanism for providing better user authentication and access to -services. Unfortunately, it's also fragile, complex and undocumented -(check out RedHat 6.1, and probably other distributions as well). PAM -has problems with symbolic links. Append the following lines to your -/etc/securetty file: - -vc/1 -vc/2 -vc/3 -vc/4 -vc/5 -vc/6 -vc/7 -vc/8 - -This will not weaken security. If you have a version of util-linux -earlier than 2.10.h, please upgrade to 2.10.h or later. If you -absolutely cannot upgrade, then also append the following lines to -your /etc/securetty file: - -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 - -This may potentially weaken security by allowing root logins over the -network (a password is still required, though). However, since there -are problems with dealing with symlinks, I'm suspicious of the level -of security offered in any case. - -XFree86 -While not essential, it's probably a good idea to upgrade to XFree86 -4.0, as patches went in to make it more devfs-friendly. If you don't, -you'll probably need to apply the following patch to -/etc/security/console.perms so that ordinary users can run -startx. Note that not all distributions have this file (e.g. Debian), -so if it's not present, don't worry about it. - ---- /etc/security/console.perms.orig Sat Apr 17 16:26:47 1999 -+++ /etc/security/console.perms Fri Feb 25 23:53:55 2000 -@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ - # man 5 console.perms - - # file classes -- these are regular expressions --=tty[0-9][0-9]* :[0-9]\.[0-9] :[0-9] -+=tty[0-9][0-9]* vc/[0-9][0-9]* :[0-9]\.[0-9] :[0-9] - - # device classes -- these are shell-style globs - =/dev/fd[0-1]* - -If the patch does not apply, then change the line: - -=tty[0-9][0-9]* :[0-9]\.[0-9] :[0-9] - -with: - -=tty[0-9][0-9]* vc/[0-9][0-9]* :[0-9]\.[0-9] :[0-9] - - -Disable devpts -I've had a report of devpts mounted on /dev/pts not working -correctly. Since devfs will also manage /dev/pts, there is no -need to mount devpts as well. You should either edit your -/etc/fstab so devpts is not mounted, or disable devpts from -your kernel configuration. - -Unsupported drivers -Not all drivers have devfs support. If you depend on one of these -drivers, you will need to create a script or tarfile that you can use -at boot time to create device nodes as appropriate. There is a -section which describes this. Another -section lists the drivers which have -devfs support. - -/dev/mouse - -Many disributions configure /dev/mouse to be the mouse device -for XFree86 and GPM. I actually think this is a bad idea, because it -adds another level of indirection. When looking at a config file, if -you see /dev/mouse you're left wondering which mouse -is being referred to. Hence I recommend putting the actual mouse -device (for example /dev/psaux) into your -/etc/X11/XF86Config file (and similarly for the GPM -configuration file). - -Alternatively, use the same technique used for unsupported drivers -described above. - -The Kernel -Finally, you need to make sure devfs is compiled into your kernel. Set -CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL=y, CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=y and CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT=y by -using favourite configuration tool (i.e. make config or -make xconfig) and then make clean and then recompile your kernel and -modules. At boot, devfs will be mounted onto /dev. - -If you encounter problems booting (for example if you forgot a -configuration step), you can pass devfs=nomount at the kernel -boot command line. This will prevent the kernel from mounting devfs at -boot time onto /dev. - -In general, a kernel built with CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=y but without mounting -devfs onto /dev is completely safe, and requires no -configuration changes. One exception to take note of is when -LABEL= directives are used in /etc/fstab. In this -case you will be unable to boot properly. This is because the -mount(8) programme uses /proc/partitions as part of -the volume label search process, and the device names it finds are not -available, because setting CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=y changes the names in -/proc/partitions, irrespective of whether devfs is mounted. - -Now you've finished all the steps required. You're now ready to boot -your shiny new kernel. Enjoy. - -Changing the configuration - -OK, you've now booted a devfs-enabled system, and everything works. -Now you may feel like changing the configuration (common targets are -/etc/fstab and /etc/devfsd.conf). Since you have a -system that works, if you make any changes and it doesn't work, you -now know that you only have to restore your configuration files to the -default and it will work again. - - -Permissions persistence across reboots - -If you don't use mknod(2) to create a device file, nor use chmod(2) or -chown(2) to change the ownerships/permissions, the inode ctime will -remain at 0 (the epoch, 12 am, 1-JAN-1970, GMT). Anything with a ctime -later than this has had it's ownership/permissions changed. Hence, a -simple script or programme may be used to tar up all changed inodes, -prior to shutdown. Although effective, many consider this approach a -kludge. - -A much better approach is to use devfsd to save and restore -permissions. It may be configured to record changes in permissions and -will save them in a database (in fact a directory tree), and restore -these upon boot. This is an efficient method and results in immediate -saving of current permissions (unlike the tar approach, which saves -permissions at some unspecified future time). - -The default configuration file supplied with devfsd has config entries -which you may uncomment to enable persistence management. - -If you decide to use the tar approach anyway, be aware that tar will -first unlink(2) an inode before creating a new device node. The -unlink(2) has the effect of breaking the connection between a devfs -entry and the device driver. If you use the "devfs=only" boot option, -you lose access to the device driver, requiring you to reload the -module. I consider this a bug in tar (there is no real need to -unlink(2) the inode first). - -Alternatively, you can use devfsd to provide more sophisticated -management of device permissions. You can use devfsd to store -permissions for whole groups of devices with a single configuration -entry, rather than the conventional single entry per device entry. - -Permissions database stored in mounted-over /dev - -If you wish to save and restore your device permissions into the -disc-based /dev while still mounting devfs onto /dev -you may do so. This requires a 2.4.x kernel (in fact, 2.3.99 or -later), which has the VFS binding facility. You need to do the -following to set this up: - - - -make sure the kernel does not mount devfs at boot time - - -make sure you have a correct /dev/console entry in your -root file-system (where your disc-based /dev lives) - -create the /dev-state directory - - -add the following lines near the very beginning of your boot -scripts: - -mount --bind /dev /dev-state -mount -t devfs none /dev -devfsd /dev - - - - -add the following lines to your /etc/devfsd.conf file: - -REGISTER ^pt[sy] IGNORE -CREATE ^pt[sy] IGNORE -CHANGE ^pt[sy] IGNORE -DELETE ^pt[sy] IGNORE -REGISTER .* COPY /dev-state/$devname $devpath -CREATE .* COPY $devpath /dev-state/$devname -CHANGE .* COPY $devpath /dev-state/$devname -DELETE .* CFUNCTION GLOBAL unlink /dev-state/$devname -RESTORE /dev-state - -Note that the sample devfsd.conf file contains these lines, -as well as other sample configurations you may find useful. See the -devfsd distribution - - -reboot. - - - - -Permissions database stored in normal directory - -If you are using an older kernel which doesn't support VFS binding, -then you won't be able to have the permissions database in a -mounted-over /dev. However, you can still use a regular -directory to store the database. The sample /etc/devfsd.conf -file above may still be used. You will need to create the -/dev-state directory prior to installing devfsd. If you have -old permissions in /dev, then just copy (or move) the device -nodes over to the new directory. - -Which method is better? - -The best method is to have the permissions database stored in the -mounted-over /dev. This is because you will not need to copy -device nodes over to /dev-state, and because it allows you to -switch between devfs and non-devfs kernels, without requiring you to -copy permissions between /dev-state (for devfs) and -/dev (for non-devfs). - - -Dealing with drivers without devfs support - -Currently, not all device drivers in the kernel have been modified to -use devfs. Device drivers which do not yet have devfs support will not -automagically appear in devfs. The simplest way to create device nodes -for these drivers is to unpack a tarfile containing the required -device nodes. You can do this in your boot scripts. All your drivers -will now work as before. - -Hopefully for most people devfs will have enough support so that they -can mount devfs directly over /dev without losing most functionality -(i.e. losing access to various devices). As of 22-JAN-1998 (devfs -patch version 10) I am now running this way. All the devices I have -are available in devfs, so I don't lose anything. - -WARNING: if your configuration requires the old-style device names -(i.e. /dev/hda1 or /dev/sda1), you must install devfsd and configure -it to maintain compatibility entries. It is almost certain that you -will require this. Note that the kernel creates a compatibility entry -for the root device, so you don't need initrd. - -Note that you no longer need to mount devpts if you use Unix98 PTYs, -as devfs can manage /dev/pts itself. This saves you some RAM, as you -don't need to compile and install devpts. Note that some versions of -glibc have a bug with Unix98 pty handling on devfs systems. Contact -the glibc maintainers for a fix. Glibc 2.1.3 has the fix. - -Note also that apart from editing /etc/fstab, other things will need -to be changed if you *don't* install devfsd. Some software (like the X -server) hard-wire device names in their source. It really is much -easier to install devfsd so that compatibility entries are created. -You can then slowly migrate your system to using the new device names -(for example, by starting with /etc/fstab), and then limiting the -compatibility entries that devfsd creates. - -IF YOU CONFIGURE TO MOUNT DEVFS AT BOOT, MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL DEVFSD -BEFORE YOU BOOT A DEVFS-ENABLED KERNEL! - -Now that devfs has gone into the 2.3.46 kernel, I'm getting a lot of -reports back. Many of these are because people are trying to run -without devfsd, and hence some things break. Please just run devfsd if -things break. I want to concentrate on real bugs rather than -misconfiguration problems at the moment. If people are willing to fix -bugs/false assumptions in other code (i.e. glibc, X server) and submit -that to the respective maintainers, that would be great. - - -All the way with Devfs - -The devfs kernel patch creates a rationalised device tree. As stated -above, if you want to keep using the old /dev naming scheme, -you just need to configure devfsd appopriately (see the man -page). People who prefer the old names can ignore this section. For -those of us who like the rationalised names and an uncluttered -/dev, read on. - -If you don't run devfsd, or don't enable compatibility entry -management, then you will have to configure your system to use the new -names. For example, you will then need to edit your -/etc/fstab to use the new disc naming scheme. If you want to -be able to boot non-devfs kernels, you will need compatibility -symlinks in the underlying disc-based /dev pointing back to -the old-style names for when you boot a kernel without devfs. - -You can selectively decide which devices you want compatibility -entries for. For example, you may only want compatibility entries for -BSD pseudo-terminal devices (otherwise you'll have to patch you C -library or use Unix98 ptys instead). It's just a matter of putting in -the correct regular expression into /dev/devfsd.conf. - -There are other choices of naming schemes that you may prefer. For -example, I don't use the kernel-supplied -names, because they are too verbose. A common misconception is -that the kernel-supplied names are meant to be used directly in -configuration files. This is not the case. They are designed to -reflect the layout of the devices attached and to provide easy -classification. - -If you like the kernel-supplied names, that's fine. If you don't then -you should be using devfsd to construct a namespace more to your -liking. Devfsd has built-in code to construct a -namespace that is both logical and easy to -manage. In essence, it creates a convenient abbreviation of the -kernel-supplied namespace. - -You are of course free to build your own namespace. Devfsd has all the -infrastructure required to make this easy for you. All you need do is -write a script. You can even write some C code and devfsd can load the -shared object as a callable extension. - - -Other Issues - -The init programme -Another thing to take note of is whether your init programme -creates a Unix socket /dev/telinit. Some versions of init -create /dev/telinit so that the telinit programme can -communicate with the init process. If you have such a system you need -to make sure that devfs is mounted over /dev *before* init -starts. In other words, you can't leave the mounting of devfs to -/etc/rc, since this is executed after init. Other -versions of init require a named pipe /dev/initctl -which must exist *before* init starts. Once again, you need to -mount devfs and then create the named pipe *before* init -starts. - -The default behaviour now is not to mount devfs onto /dev at -boot time for 2.3.x and later kernels. You can correct this with the -"devfs=mount" boot option. This solves any problems with init, -and also prevents the dreaded: - -Cannot open initial console - -message. For 2.2.x kernels where you need to apply the devfs patch, -the default is to mount. - -If you have automatic mounting of devfs onto /dev then you -may need to create /dev/initctl in your boot scripts. The -following lines should suffice: - -mknod /dev/initctl p -kill -SIGUSR1 1 # tell init that /dev/initctl now exists - -Alternatively, if you don't want the kernel to mount devfs onto -/dev then you could use the following procedure is a -guideline for how to get around /dev/initctl problems: - -# cd /sbin -# mv init init.real -# cat > init -#! /bin/sh -mount -n -t devfs none /dev -mknod /dev/initctl p -exec /sbin/init.real $* -[control-D] -# chmod a+x init - -Note that newer versions of init create /dev/initctl -automatically, so you don't have to worry about this. - -Module autoloading -You will need to configure devfsd to enable module -autoloading. The following lines should be placed in your -/etc/devfsd.conf file: - -LOOKUP .* MODLOAD - - -As of devfsd-v1.3.10, a generic /etc/modules.devfs -configuration file is installed, which is used by the MODLOAD -action. This should be sufficient for most configurations. If you -require further configuration, edit your /etc/modules.conf -file. The way module autoloading work with devfs is: - - -a process attempts to lookup a device node (e.g. /dev/fred) - - -if that device node does not exist, the full pathname is passed to -devfsd as a string - - -devfsd will pass the string to the modprobe programme (provided the -configuration line shown above is present), and specifies that -/etc/modules.devfs is the configuration file - - -/etc/modules.devfs includes /etc/modules.conf to -access local configurations - -modprobe will search it's configuration files, looking for an alias -that translates the pathname into a module name - - -the translated pathname is then used to load the module. - - -If you wanted a lookup of /dev/fred to load the -mymod module, you would require the following configuration -line in /etc/modules.conf: - -alias /dev/fred mymod - -The /etc/modules.devfs configuration file provides many such -aliases for standard device names. If you look closely at this file, -you will note that some modules require multiple alias configuration -lines. This is required to support module autoloading for old and new -device names. - -Mounting root off a devfs device -If you wish to mount root off a devfs device when you pass the -"devfs=only" boot option, then you need to pass in the -"root=" option to the kernel when booting. If you use -LILO, then you must have this in lilo.conf: - -append = "root=" - -Surprised? Yep, so was I. It turns out if you have (as most people -do): - -root = - - -then LILO will determine the device number of and will -write that device number into a special place in the kernel image -before starting the kernel, and the kernel will use that device number -to mount the root filesystem. So, using the "append" variety ensures -that LILO passes the root filesystem device as a string, which devfs -can then use. - -Note that this isn't an issue if you don't pass "devfs=only". - -TTY issues -The ttyname(3) function in some versions of the C library makes -false assumptions about device entries which are symbolic links. The -tty(1) programme is one that depends on this function. I've -written a patch to libc 5.4.43 which fixes this. This has been -included in libc 5.4.44 and a similar fix is in glibc 2.1.3. - - -Kernel Naming Scheme - -The kernel provides a default naming scheme. This scheme is designed -to make it easy to search for specific devices or device types, and to -view the available devices. Some device types (such as hard discs), -have a directory of entries, making it easy to see what devices of -that class are available. Often, the entries are symbolic links into a -directory tree that reflects the topology of available devices. The -topological tree is useful for finding how your devices are arranged. - -Below is a list of the naming schemes for the most common drivers. A -list of reserved device names is -available for reference. Please send email to -rgooch@atnf.csiro.au to obtain an allocation. Please be -patient (the maintainer is busy). An alternative name may be allocated -instead of the requested name, at the discretion of the maintainer. - -Disc Devices - -All discs, whether SCSI, IDE or whatever, are placed under the -/dev/discs hierarchy: - - /dev/discs/disc0 first disc - /dev/discs/disc1 second disc - - -Each of these entries is a symbolic link to the directory for that -device. The device directory contains: - - disc for the whole disc - part* for individual partitions - - -CD-ROM Devices - -All CD-ROMs, whether SCSI, IDE or whatever, are placed under the -/dev/cdroms hierarchy: - - /dev/cdroms/cdrom0 first CD-ROM - /dev/cdroms/cdrom1 second CD-ROM - - -Each of these entries is a symbolic link to the real device entry for -that device. - -Tape Devices - -All tapes, whether SCSI, IDE or whatever, are placed under the -/dev/tapes hierarchy: - - /dev/tapes/tape0 first tape - /dev/tapes/tape1 second tape - - -Each of these entries is a symbolic link to the directory for that -device. The device directory contains: - - mt for mode 0 - mtl for mode 1 - mtm for mode 2 - mta for mode 3 - mtn for mode 0, no rewind - mtln for mode 1, no rewind - mtmn for mode 2, no rewind - mtan for mode 3, no rewind - - -SCSI Devices - -To uniquely identify any SCSI device requires the following -information: - - controller (host adapter) - bus (SCSI channel) - target (SCSI ID) - unit (Logical Unit Number) - - -All SCSI devices are placed under /dev/scsi (assuming devfs -is mounted on /dev). Hence, a SCSI device with the following -parameters: c=1,b=2,t=3,u=4 would appear as: - - /dev/scsi/host1/bus2/target3/lun4 device directory - - -Inside this directory, a number of device entries may be created, -depending on which SCSI device-type drivers were installed. - -See the section on the disc naming scheme to see what entries the SCSI -disc driver creates. - -See the section on the tape naming scheme to see what entries the SCSI -tape driver creates. - -The SCSI CD-ROM driver creates: - - cd - - -The SCSI generic driver creates: - - generic - - -IDE Devices - -To uniquely identify any IDE device requires the following -information: - - controller - bus (aka. primary/secondary) - target (aka. master/slave) - unit - - -All IDE devices are placed under /dev/ide, and uses a similar -naming scheme to the SCSI subsystem. - -XT Hard Discs - -All XT discs are placed under /dev/xd. The first XT disc has -the directory /dev/xd/disc0. - -TTY devices - -The tty devices now appear as: - - New name Old-name Device Type - -------- -------- ----------- - /dev/tts/{0,1,...} /dev/ttyS{0,1,...} Serial ports - /dev/cua/{0,1,...} /dev/cua{0,1,...} Call out devices - /dev/vc/0 /dev/tty Current virtual console - /dev/vc/{1,2,...} /dev/tty{1...63} Virtual consoles - /dev/vcc/{0,1,...} /dev/vcs{1...63} Virtual consoles - /dev/pty/m{0,1,...} /dev/ptyp?? PTY masters - /dev/pty/s{0,1,...} /dev/ttyp?? PTY slaves - - -RAMDISCS - -The RAMDISCS are placed in their own directory, and are named thus: - - /dev/rd/{0,1,2,...} - - -Meta Devices - -The meta devices are placed in their own directory, and are named -thus: - - /dev/md/{0,1,2,...} - - -Floppy discs - -Floppy discs are placed in the /dev/floppy directory. - -Loop devices - -Loop devices are placed in the /dev/loop directory. - -Sound devices - -Sound devices are placed in the /dev/sound directory -(audio, sequencer, ...). - - -Devfsd Naming Scheme - -Devfsd provides a naming scheme which is a convenient abbreviation of -the kernel-supplied namespace. In some -cases, the kernel-supplied naming scheme is quite convenient, so -devfsd does not provide another naming scheme. The convenience names -that devfsd creates are in fact the same names as the original devfs -kernel patch created (before Linus mandated the Big Name -Change). These are referred to as "new compatibility entries". - -In order to configure devfsd to create these convenience names, the -following lines should be placed in your /etc/devfsd.conf: - -REGISTER .* MKNEWCOMPAT -UNREGISTER .* RMNEWCOMPAT - -This will cause devfsd to create (and destroy) symbolic links which -point to the kernel-supplied names. - -SCSI Hard Discs - -All SCSI discs are placed under /dev/sd (assuming devfs is -mounted on /dev). Hence, a SCSI disc with the following -parameters: c=1,b=2,t=3,u=4 would appear as: - - /dev/sd/c1b2t3u4 for the whole disc - /dev/sd/c1b2t3u4p5 for the 5th partition - /dev/sd/c1b2t3u4p5s6 for the 6th slice in the 5th partition - - -SCSI Tapes - -All SCSI tapes are placed under /dev/st. A similar naming -scheme is used as for SCSI discs. A SCSI tape with the -parameters:c=1,b=2,t=3,u=4 would appear as: - - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m0 for mode 0 - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m1 for mode 1 - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m2 for mode 2 - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m3 for mode 3 - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m0n for mode 0, no rewind - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m1n for mode 1, no rewind - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m2n for mode 2, no rewind - /dev/st/c1b2t3u4m3n for mode 3, no rewind - - -SCSI CD-ROMs - -All SCSI CD-ROMs are placed under /dev/sr. A similar naming -scheme is used as for SCSI discs. A SCSI CD-ROM with the -parameters:c=1,b=2,t=3,u=4 would appear as: - - /dev/sr/c1b2t3u4 - - -SCSI Generic Devices - -The generic (aka. raw) interface for all SCSI devices are placed under -/dev/sg. A similar naming scheme is used as for SCSI discs. A -SCSI generic device with the parameters:c=1,b=2,t=3,u=4 would appear -as: - - /dev/sg/c1b2t3u4 - - -IDE Hard Discs - -All IDE discs are placed under /dev/ide/hd, using a similar -convention to SCSI discs. The following mappings exist between the new -and the old names: - - /dev/hda /dev/ide/hd/c0b0t0u0 - /dev/hdb /dev/ide/hd/c0b0t1u0 - /dev/hdc /dev/ide/hd/c0b1t0u0 - /dev/hdd /dev/ide/hd/c0b1t1u0 - - -IDE Tapes - -A similar naming scheme is used as for IDE discs. The entries will -appear in the /dev/ide/mt directory. - -IDE CD-ROM - -A similar naming scheme is used as for IDE discs. The entries will -appear in the /dev/ide/cd directory. - -IDE Floppies - -A similar naming scheme is used as for IDE discs. The entries will -appear in the /dev/ide/fd directory. - -XT Hard Discs - -All XT discs are placed under /dev/xd. The first XT disc -would appear as /dev/xd/c0t0. - - -Old Compatibility Names - -The old compatibility names are the legacy device names, such as -/dev/hda, /dev/sda, /dev/rtc and so on. -Devfsd can be configured to create compatibility symlinks so that you -may continue to use the old names in your configuration files and so -that old applications will continue to function correctly. - -In order to configure devfsd to create these legacy names, the -following lines should be placed in your /etc/devfsd.conf: - -REGISTER .* MKOLDCOMPAT -UNREGISTER .* RMOLDCOMPAT - -This will cause devfsd to create (and destroy) symbolic links which -point to the kernel-supplied names. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -Device drivers currently ported - -- All miscellaneous character devices support devfs (this is done - transparently through misc_register()) - -- SCSI discs and generic hard discs - -- Character memory devices (null, zero, full and so on) - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- Loop devices (/dev/loop?) - -- TTY devices (console, serial ports, terminals and pseudo-terminals) - Thanks to C. Scott Ananian - -- SCSI tapes (/dev/scsi and /dev/tapes) - -- SCSI CD-ROMs (/dev/scsi and /dev/cdroms) - -- SCSI generic devices (/dev/scsi) - -- RAMDISCS (/dev/ram?) - -- Meta Devices (/dev/md*) - -- Floppy discs (/dev/floppy) - -- Parallel port printers (/dev/printers) - -- Sound devices (/dev/sound) - Thanks to Eric Dumas and - C. Scott Ananian - -- Joysticks (/dev/joysticks) - -- Sparc keyboard (/dev/kbd) - -- DSP56001 digital signal processor (/dev/dsp56k) - -- Apple Desktop Bus (/dev/adb) - -- Coda network file system (/dev/cfs*) - -- Virtual console capture devices (/dev/vcc) - Thanks to Dennis Hou - -- Frame buffer devices (/dev/fb) - -- Video capture devices (/dev/v4l) - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -Allocation of Device Numbers - -Devfs allows you to write a driver which doesn't need to allocate a -device number (major&minor numbers) for the internal operation of the -kernel. However, there are a number of userspace programmes that use -the device number as a unique handle for a device. An example is the -find programme, which uses device numbers to determine whether -an inode is on a different filesystem than another inode. The device -number used is the one for the block device which a filesystem is -using. To preserve compatibility with userspace programmes, block -devices using devfs need to have unique device numbers allocated to -them. Furthermore, POSIX specifies device numbers, so some kind of -device number needs to be presented to userspace. - -The simplest option (especially when porting drivers to devfs) is to -keep using the old major and minor numbers. Devfs will take whatever -values are given for major&minor and pass them onto userspace. - -This device number is a 16 bit number, so this leaves plenty of space -for large numbers of discs and partitions. This scheme can also be -used for character devices, in particular the tty devices, which are -currently limited to 256 pseudo-ttys (this limits the total number of -simultaneous xterms and remote logins). Note that the device number -is limited to the range 36864-61439 (majors 144-239), in order to -avoid any possible conflicts with existing official allocations. - -Please note that using dynamically allocated block device numbers may -break the NFS daemons (both user and kernel mode), which expect dev_t -for a given device to be constant over the lifetime of remote mounts. - -A final note on this scheme: since it doesn't increase the size of -device numbers, there are no compatibility issues with userspace. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -Questions and Answers - - -Making things work -Alternatives to devfs -What I don't like about devfs -How to report bugs -Strange kernel messages -Compilation problems with devfsd - - - -Making things work - -Here are some common questions and answers. - - - -Devfsd doesn't start - -Make sure you have compiled and installed devfsd -Make sure devfsd is being started from your boot -scripts -Make sure you have configured your kernel to enable devfs (see -below) -Make sure devfs is mounted (see below) - - -Devfsd is not managing all my permissions - -Make sure you are capturing the appropriate events. For example, -device entries created by the kernel generate REGISTER events, -but those created by devfsd generate CREATE events. - - -Devfsd is not capturing all REGISTER events - -See the previous entry: you may need to capture CREATE events. - - -X will not start - -Make sure you followed the steps -outlined above. - - -Why don't my network devices appear in devfs? - -This is not a bug. Network devices have their own, completely separate -namespace. They are accessed via socket(2) and -setsockopt(2) calls, and thus require no device nodes. I have -raised the possibilty of moving network devices into the device -namespace, but have had no response. - - -How can I test if I have devfs compiled into my kernel? - -All filesystems built-in or currently loaded are listed in -/proc/filesystems. If you see a devfs entry, then -you know that devfs was compiled into your kernel. If you have -correctly configured and rebuilt your kernel, then devfs will be -built-in. If you think you've configured it in, but -/proc/filesystems doesn't show it, you've made a mistake. -Common mistakes include: - -Using a 2.2.x kernel without applying the devfs patch (if you -don't know how to patch your kernel, use 2.4.x instead, don't bother -asking me how to patch) -Forgetting to set CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL=y -Forgetting to set CONFIG_DEVFS_FS=y -Forgetting to set CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT=y (if you want devfs -to be automatically mounted at boot) -Editing your .config manually, instead of using make -config or make xconfig -Forgetting to run make dep; make clean after changing the -configuration and before compiling -Forgetting to compile your kernel and modules -Forgetting to install your kernel -Forgetting to install your modules - -Please check twice that you've done all these steps before sending in -a bug report. - - - -How can I test if devfs is mounted on /dev? - -The device filesystem will always create an entry called -".devfsd", which is used to communicate with the daemon. Even -if the daemon is not running, this entry will exist. Testing for the -existence of this entry is the approved method of determining if devfs -is mounted or not. Note that the type of entry (i.e. regular file, -character device, named pipe, etc.) may change without notice. Only -the existence of the entry should be relied upon. - - -When I start devfsd, I see the error: -Error opening file: ".devfsd" No such file or directory? - -This means that devfs is not mounted. Make sure you have devfs mounted. - - -How do I mount devfs? - -First make sure you have devfs compiled into your kernel (see -above). Then you will either need to: - -set CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT=y in your kernel config -pass devfs=mount to your boot loader -mount devfs manually in your boot scripts with: -mount -t none devfs /dev - - - -Mount by volume LABEL=