Extending the Linux hotplug system

HOTPLUG HACKS

Article from Issue 71/2006
Author(s):

Hotplugging is invisible and automatic – if you want it to be. But a close look at the Linux hotplug system reveals interesting opportunities for customization.

Getting software to talk to hardware is a messy business in any operating system. Compounding the communication problem is the fact that the growth of the PC industry has led to a vast proliferation of hardware devices for nearly endless categories of uses. Unfortunately, most hardware vendors don’t commit enough resources to supporting their Linux customers. The good news is that Linux and other Unix-like systems have a very logical and practical design that works well with hardware once you understand it. Of course, the real goal is to make hardware support so easy and invisible that the user is never even troubled by it. As Linux enters the market for non-technical home users, this need for effortless configuration is even more crucial. Hotplugging has been a buzzword for several years now, and hotplugging in Linux is at last a reality. But because the point of hotplugging is to promote hands-off automatic configuration, some users may not realize that it is very possible to adapt, customize, and extend the Linux hotplug system. We’ll show you some handy hotplug hacks in this month’s cover story.

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
Print Issues
Digital Issues
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Print Subs
Digisubs
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Debian Hotplug

    Debian hotplug is designed for little more than loading drivers and configuring devices. The collection of scripts discussed in this article helps Linux to respond when a network cable is plugged in or when a cellphone is in the vicinity. Read on for more on how to define custom hotplug events.

    more »
  • Ivman

    Better knowledge of the Linux hotplug system opens the door to to innovation and automation. We’ll show you a custom backup solution for laptop computers.

    more »
  • Hotplugging

    Hardware which just works is what every user wants. Current Linux distributions go a long way to fulfilling that dream. In this article, we will be investigating how the hotplug system works.

    more »
  • Udev

    After three years of hanging around on the sidelines, Udev has finally ousted the legacy Dev-FS system. We take a look under the hood at the Udev device management system inside your Linux system.

    more »
  • Arch Linux

    If you’re looking for a fast, stable system without the GUI goo, try Arch Linux.

    more »
comments powered by Disqus

Visit Our Shop

Trial Subscription

Digital Subscription

Subscribe

Direct Download

Read full article as PDF:

Hotplug_Hacks_Intro.pdf (88.08 kB)

DevOps

News

Tag Cloud

Administration Community Events Hardware Linux Linux New Media Linux Pro Magazine Mobile Programming Software Ubuntu Web Development Windows free software open source
njobs Europe
What:
Where:
Country:
Njobs Netherlands Njobs Deutschland Njobs United Kingdom Njobs Italia Njobs France Njobs Espana Njobs Poland
Njobs Austria Njobs Denmark Njobs Belgium Njobs Czech Republic Njobs Mexico Njobs India Njobs Colombia