Re: devfs vs udev, thoughts from a devfs user

Ian Kent
2004-02-11T01:24:11Z

On Tue, 10 Feb 2004, Greg KH wrote:

> On Tue, Feb 10, 2004 at 03:34:18AM -0800, Mike Bell wrote:
> > I've been reading a lot lately about udev and how it's both very
> > different to and much better than devfs, and with _most_ of the reasons
> > given, I can't see how either is the case. I'd like to lay out why I
> > think that is.
>
> One final comment: Can you implement a persistent device naming scheme
> using devfs today? If so, please show me how you would:
> - always name a USB printer the same /dev name no matter when it
> is discovered by the USB core (before or after any other USB
> printer.)
> - always name your SCSI disk the same /dev name no matter where
> in the scsi probe sequence it is (yank it out and plug it into
> another place in your scsi rack.)
>
> This is the main problem that udev solves. The fact that it also gives
> you a dynamic /dev is just extra goodness.

In his final comment, inocently, he makes the big point.

This a huge deal.

Ian