On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 12:36:20AM -0600, dann frazier wrote: > Here's a proof of concept to further the discussion.. > > The default filename uses the format: > /dev/netdev/by-ifindex/$ifindex > > This provides the infrastructure to permit udev rules to create aliases for > network devices using symlinks, for example: > > /dev/netdev/by-name/eth0 -> ../by-ifindex/1 > /dev/netdev/by-biosname/LOM0 -> ../by-ifindex/3 > > A library (such as the proposed libnetdevname) could use this information > to provide an alias->realname mapping for network utilities. yes, this could work, as IFINDEX is already exported in the uevents, and that's the primary value udev needs to set up the mapping. While I like the little ifindex2name script you've got, I think udev could simply call if_indextoname() to get this, and not call an external program? I suppose it could be a really really simple external program too. I'd be fine with this approach. It has the advantages of not requiring a kernel change at all, and not creating a whole character device which would be useless. And it doesn't preclude someone in the future from creating a char device for network devices should they so choose. Kay, what say you as udev owner? Thanks, Matt -- Matt Domsch Technology Strategist, Dell Office of the CTO linux.dell.com & www.dell.com/linux -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-hotplug" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
