By adding the correct module alias, programs won't have to explicitly call modprobe. Vhost-net will always be available if built into the kernel. It does require assigning a permanent minor number for depmod to work. Choose one next to TUN since this driver is related to it. Also, use C99 style initialization. Signed-off-by: Stephen Hemminger <shemminger@xxxxxxxxxx> --- v2 - document minor number and make sure to not overlap Documentation/devices.txt | 2 ++ drivers/vhost/net.c | 8 +++++--- include/linux/miscdevice.h | 1 + 3 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) --- a/drivers/vhost/net.c 2012-01-10 10:56:58.883179194 -0800 +++ b/drivers/vhost/net.c 2012-01-10 19:48:23.650225892 -0800 @@ -856,9 +856,9 @@ static const struct file_operations vhos }; static struct miscdevice vhost_net_misc = { - MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR, - "vhost-net", - &vhost_net_fops, + .minor = VHOST_NET_MINOR, + .name = "vhost-net", + .fops = &vhost_net_fops, }; static int vhost_net_init(void) @@ -879,3 +879,5 @@ MODULE_VERSION("0.0.1"); MODULE_LICENSE("GPL v2"); MODULE_AUTHOR("Michael S. Tsirkin"); MODULE_DESCRIPTION("Host kernel accelerator for virtio net"); +MODULE_ALIAS_MISCDEV(VHOST_NET_MINOR); +MODULE_ALIAS("devname:vhost-net"); --- a/include/linux/miscdevice.h 2012-01-10 10:56:59.779189436 -0800 +++ b/include/linux/miscdevice.h 2012-01-11 09:13:20.803694316 -0800 @@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ #define AUTOFS_MINOR 235 #define MAPPER_CTRL_MINOR 236 #define LOOP_CTRL_MINOR 237 +#define VHOST_NET_MINOR 238 #define MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR 255 struct device; --- a/Documentation/devices.txt 2012-01-10 10:56:53.399116518 -0800 +++ b/Documentation/devices.txt 2012-01-11 09:12:49.251197653 -0800 @@ -447,6 +447,8 @@ Your cooperation is appreciated. 234 = /dev/btrfs-control Btrfs control device 235 = /dev/autofs Autofs control device 236 = /dev/mapper/control Device-Mapper control device + 237 = /dev/vhost-net Host kernel accelerator for virtio net + 240-254 Reserved for local use 255 Reserved for MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe kvm" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html