Re: udev - easy setup ?
* Jules Dubois <j6bqszk02@sneakemail.com> [2005 Aug 05 01:15 -0500]:
> The message I half-finished writing and accidentally sent, the one that
> mentions "Apple developer documents". I discovered that the only
> interesting parts of Apple's stuff is extracted from the official USB docs.
> I sent another message like it but with real information.
Okay, thanks.
> > I've been watching this thread with interest. So
> > far I've not tried udev and I'm wondering if it's worth it.
>
> I think it's worth it, but I use only a small fraction of its capabilities.
> When I first installed it, I didn't do any sort of configuration. I didn't
> see any difference in how my system worked, until I looked in /dev where
> the dozens (hundreds?) of device nodes I don't use were gone.
Well, that should restore some inodes back to the system at the very
least.
> I've since created a few rules which while handy and pretty are nothing to
> get excited about. The OP wants to do the kind of thing for which udev is
> designed. I use keys like SYSFS{vendor} and these don't meet Uwe's
> requirements. However, I don't understand enough about USB or kernel
> internals to do more than take an insufficiently educated guess about how
> to proceed.
So what I understand is that udev is a great framework, but it hasn't
been sufficiently implemented in user space to be "plug and play"?
Perhaps the desktop projects are working on utilizing it.
I don't like comparing Debian and Windows, but here is an experience
from yesterday. I have an IBM T42 at work without a 3.5" floppy drive,
of course. Since more of these things are showing up, we decided it
might be wise to get a USB floppy. We got it yesterday, new in the
box. I plugged it into the T42 which runs XP, of course, and the OS
picked it right up, assigned it as drive A, and I went right to
formatting a disk in it and copying a file. Didn't even need the
driver CD.
I realize that Debian provides a base and that works like KNOPPIX and
Ubuntu are building on Debian to provide a more user centric
distribution. But, this USB stuff is so basic that it should "just
work". If Windows isn't confused and can distinguish between a USB
floppy and assign it as A and then I can install my Lexar Jump Drive
and it can figure out that it's different and assign it as E and then I
can attach my portable CD/DVD RW drive and assign it as F, we in the
Linux community should be able to do that as well with minimal hassle.
On the other hand, I just yanked the Jump Drive while a file manager
had it open and that has apparently caused a major problem. I have
error boxes popping open and diagnostic information coming up, so in
that regard, I know that Linux is much more robust.
Right now I have some custom Hotplug scripts for my Jump Drive and my
camera. They are a kludge, but they get the job done.
- Nate >>
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