Re: Idea: Super-Device Drivers

David Woodhouse (Dave@imladris.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 09 Mar 1998 17:47:49 +0000

cpa@hopper.unh.edu said:
> What with WinModems and WinPrinters coming out, this would make it easier
> for software developers to support those screwy things (assuming somebody
> wrote the driver). You just open /dev/modem and call the DIAL ioctl.
> Similar things have been done in external libraries. I am just proposing
> moving them into where they seem to belong.
>
> There are problems. Kernel bloat, of course. But since they are devices, I
> don't think it is out of line.

I'd be inclined to agree with you. After all, the alternative for these
devices is to emulate the standard tty-based devices, which also involves
kernel bloat.

ISDN already does a fairly complete Hayes emulation, which can be found in
drivers/isdn/isdn_tty.c

The Hayes-emulation may still be necessary until the applications start using
the new ioctls, but IMHO the emulation should be done in user-space, not by
the kernel.

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David Woodhouse, Robinson College, CB3 9AN, England. (+44) 0976 658355
Dave@imladris.demon.co.uk http://dwmw2.robinson.cam.ac.uk
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