--- linux/Documentation-2.4.0/Configure.help Tue Jan 16 10:47:27 2001 +++ linux/Documentation/Configure.help Tue Jan 16 10:51:54 2001 @@ -2625,13 +2625,14 @@ One well known example of this is PCMCIA- or PC-cards, credit-card size devices such as network cards, modems or hard drives which are - plugged into slots found on all modern laptop computers. + plugged into slots found on all modern laptop computers. Another + example, used on modern desktops as well as laptops, is USB. - Another example, used on modern desktops as well as laptops, is USB. - Enable HOTPLUG with USB and KMOD, and your kernel will automatically - call out to a user mode "policy agent" to load modules and set up - software needed to use USB devices you plug in. Get agent software - (at http://www.linux-usb.org/policy.html) and install it. + Enable HOTPLUG and KMOD, and build a modular kernel. Get agent + software (at http://linux-hotplug.sourceforge.net) and install it. + Then your kernel will automatically call out to a user mode "policy + agent" (/sbin/hotplug) to load modules and set up software needed + to use devices as you hotplug them. PCMCIA/Cardbus support CONFIG_PCMCIA --- linux/Documentation-2.4.0/usb/hotplug.txt Tue Jan 16 10:47:53 2001 +++ linux/Documentation/usb/hotplug.txt Tue Jan 16 11:01:16 2001 @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ -USB HOTPLUGGING +LINUX HOTPLUGGING In hotpluggable busses like USB (and Cardbus PCI), end-users plug devices into the bus with power on. In most cases, users expect the devices to become @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ loading a kernel module; newer drivers can use modutils to publish their device (and class) support to user utilities. - - Bind a driver to that device. That's done using the USB + - Bind a driver to that device. Bus frameworks do that using a device driver's probe() routine. - Tell other subsystems to configure the new device. Print @@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ such programs are called "policy agents" here. Typically they involve shell scripts that dispatch to more familiar administration tools. +Because some of those actions rely on information about drivers (metadata) +that is currently available only when the drivers are dynamically linked, +you get the best hotplugging when you configure a highly modular system. + KERNEL HOTPLUG HELPER (/sbin/hotplug) @@ -40,9 +44,14 @@ dispatch; any other argument and environment parameters are specified by the subsystem making that invocation. -A reference implementation of a /sbin/hotplug script is available at the -http://www.linux-usb.org website, which works USB for but also knows how to -delegate to any /etc/hotplug/$TYPE.agent policy agent present. +Hotplug software and other resources is available at: + + http://linux-hotplug.sourceforge.net + +Mailing list information is also available at that site. + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- USB POLICY AGENT