Re: 32bit dev_t [LWN.net]

From:		Alan <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>
To:		Steven Dake <sdake@mvista.com>
Subject:		Re: 32bit dev_t
Date:		21 Jan 2003 22:33:05 +0000
Cc:		Joel Becker <Joel.Becker@oracle.com>, Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>

On Tue, 2003-01-21 at 21:29, Steven Dake wrote:
> Joel,
> 
> Linux doesn't really need a 32 bit kdev_t structure to support 1000 
> disks.  There is plenty of device space available to support over 1500 
> disks by modifying the linux scsi layer.

You run out of assigned major/minor numbers. There is a sick hack that
steals other device idents but thats not usable in a production environment.
32bit dev_t IMHO is essential to 2.6. Essential enough that if its not in
the base 2.6 all the vendors have to get together and issue a Linus 
incompatible but common 32bit dev_t interface.

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