On Thu, Oct 10, 2002 at 06:58:53AM -0700, Michael Olds wrote: > Mount or disable devfs? > > Device File System > > For a good discussion of devfs see: > http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/rgooch/linux/docs/devfs.html#what-is-it > > In attempting to set up and run Partition Image, I got the message: > "Inode Missing" /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc with an offer to > create it. I contacted the PI board and asked: "Can someone explain what > this is and what it means and whether or not it is safe to allow PI to > create the inodes?" and was told: > > "In your case not (safe)." > > "ext2/3 inode is almost like clusters in FAT file system." > > "I think you enabled devfs support in kernel but you haven't mounted > devfs partition into /dev. Partimage can't work in such situation. > You'll have to remove devfs support from kernel or mount devfs in /dev." > > "Cat your /proc/partitions file. If you read > /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/partXXX you enabled devfs support." > > I have apparently enabled devfs support as I have a fair number of these > listed, apparently one for each partition and extended partition. > > "Now if you ls /dev and you only see hdaXX without ide subdirectory, you > haven't mounted devfs in /dev." > > And I have no subdirectory /dev/ide devfs support is compiled into stock Debian GNU/Linux 2.4.x kernel images. If you mount devfs on /dev, /edv/ide will be created. > > So the questions to the Debian folk are: > > [As far as I can tell, this devfs thing is primarily of use to those with > external devices such as scanners and so forth. I have only one external > device connected to this computer: a printer.] > > What are the advantages/disadvantages in my situation? > > 1. Should I mount devfs? From the above answers it looks like you need to mount devfs to use Partition Image. The alterntive is to recompile your kernel and remove devfs support. > 2. If so: how do I go about mounting it? mount -n -t devfs none /dev or on boot append "devfs=mount" boot parameter. However, if you have changed permissions or file ownership of any devices, read up on devfsd and make needed changes to files in /etc/devfs before you mount devfs on /dev since devfsd will set device permissions and ownership to default values. > I have read some of the > discussions, but they are generally on a higher level than my own. Is it the > same as mounting any other device? Do I need to mount each (one for each > partition) individually, or will mount /devfs mount what is need? One time. Once you mount devfs, all devices will be created in /dev. devfsd will also create symlinks in /dev so you can still use devices such as /dev/hdaX. > If this is > an advisable setup, can it be set up to happen automatically on > boot? Yes, you can manually enter "devfs=mount" when you boot, configure lilo or grub to do this, or, if you compile your kernel, there is a configuration option that can be set, i.e, "CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT=y". > 3. If not: how do I go about removing devfs support? Is this going to > require a Kernel Rebuild? Yes. set line in .config to "# CONFIG_DEVFS_FS is not set." But I never tried this, so I'm not sure is anything else may need to be changed. > 4. How did I get into this mess in the first place? i.e. What did I say yes > to that I didn't need? I would guess you selected to use 2.4.x kernel rather than a 2.2.x, since devfs is built into stock 2.4.x kernels and not in 2.2.x. > > A lot of questions; I am still reading, but I could use any thoughts anyone > here has on the matter. I've been mounting devfs on /dev for months. Works great. > > Best Wishes! > Mike Olds www.buddhadust.org > > -- Jerome
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