Re: 64-bit kdev_t - just for playing

From: Roman Zippel <zippel@linux-m68k.org>
To: Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>
Cc: Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>, <Andries.Brouwer@cwi.nl>,
	Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: 64-bit kdev_t - just for playing
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 10:47:14 +0100 (CET)	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0303281031120.5042-100000@serv> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20030327234820.GE1687@kroah.com>

Hi,

On Thu, 27 Mar 2003, Greg KH wrote:

> > > Devices.txt or dynamic assignment
> > 
> > The first case means a /dev directory with millions of dev entries.
> > How does the user find out about the number of partitions in the second 
> > case?
> 
> They point and guess, just like they do today :)

I think the users which need this most won't be particular happy.

> > > > Who creates these device entries (user or daemon)?
> > > 
> > > Who cares 8)  Thats just the devfs argument all over again 8)
> > 
> > Why? I specifically didn't mention the kernel.
> > Anyone has to care, somehow this large number space must be managed.
> 
> Yes, some of us are working on this.  But this has nothing to do with
> the kernel, or Andries's patches.  It's a userspace issue.

Somehow the kernel and the userspace have to work together. What I want to 
know is whether we just create another crutch, barely usable for the 
desperate or if we create a solution which has a small chance to still 
work in the future.

bye, Roman