Messages in this thread |  | | Date | Sun, 2 Dec 2001 13:22:11 -0700 | From | Richard Gooch <> | Subject | Re: 2.4.17pre2: devfs: devfs_mk_dir(printers): could not append to dir: dffe45c0 "", err: -17 |
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Alan Cox writes: > > I wouldn't say it's not back compatible. If you want to use a new > > devfsd feature, then you need the new devfs. The key difference > > between the old and new devfs core (aside from fixing those races) is > > that the new devfs core will spit out an EEXIST warning message > > whereas before it didn't. But his system still worked. It didn't > > break. > > Ok so the old devfsd works but spews a few errors. Right - then I > agree with you.
It's not simply the version of devfsd that matters. Upgrading to a new devfsd won't cause the errors. It's the new devfs core that's issuing the warnings. These warnings happen because Mandrake populates devfs with a bunch of inodes early in the boot scripts, then later the drivers are loaded. When the drivers try to register entries, devfs spits out the EEXIST warnings.
The point of the new devfsd is that you can use the new RESTORE directive instead of some kludged-up boot scripts to restore inodes. The RESTORE directive will only re-create *manually created* inodes (i.e. when the admin goes "ln -s misc/psaux mouse"), and not ones created by drivers or devfsd (it does however restore permissions for any changed inodes). This avoids the duplicates that you otherwise get with Mandrake's boot scripts.
However, for the new RESTORE directive to do what you want, you need the new devfs core. Otherwise RESTORE will end up re-creating inodes created by devfsd (i.e. from MKOLDCOMPAT), which is undesirable.
I hope that explains it clearly.
Regards,
Richard.... Permanent: rgooch@atnf.csiro.au Current: rgooch@ras.ucalgary.ca - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
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