linux/include
Kay Sievers 770fe30a46 loop: add management interface for on-demand device allocation
Loop devices today have a fixed pre-allocated number of usually 8.
The number can only be changed at module init time. To find a free
device to use, /dev/loop%i needs to be scanned, and all devices need
to be opened until a free one is possibly found.

This adds a new /dev/loop-control device node, that allows to
dynamically find or allocate a free device, and to add and remove loop
devices from the running system:
 LOOP_CTL_ADD adds a specific device. Arg is the number
 of the device. It returns the device i or a negative
 error code.

 LOOP_CTL_REMOVE removes a specific device, Arg is the
 number the device. It returns the device i or a negative
 error code.

 LOOP_CTL_GET_FREE finds the next unbound device or allocates
 a new one. No arg is given. It returns the device i or a
 negative error code.

The loop kernel module gets automatically loaded when
/dev/loop-control is accessed the first time. The alias
specified in the module, instructs udev to create this
'dead' device node, even when the module is not loaded.

Example:
 cfd = open("/dev/loop-control", O_RDWR);

 # add a new specific loop device
 err = ioctl(cfd, LOOP_CTL_ADD, devnr);

 # remove a specific loop device
 err = ioctl(cfd, LOOP_CTL_REMOVE, devnr);

 # find or allocate a free loop device to use
 devnr = ioctl(cfd, LOOP_CTL_GET_FREE);

 sprintf(loopname, "/dev/loop%i", devnr);
 ffd = open("backing-file", O_RDWR);
 lfd = open(loopname, O_RDWR);
 err = ioctl(lfd, LOOP_SET_FD, ffd);

Cc: Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org>
Cc: Karel Zak  <kzak@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Kay Sievers <kay.sievers@vrfy.org>
Signed-off-by: Jens Axboe <jaxboe@fusionio.com>
2011-07-31 22:08:04 +02:00
..
acpi atomic: use <linux/atomic.h> 2011-07-26 16:49:47 -07:00
asm-generic Merge branch 'next/cross-platform' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm/linux-arm-soc 2011-07-26 17:12:10 -07:00
crypto net: remove mm.h inclusion from netdevice.h 2011-06-21 19:17:20 -07:00
drm atomic: use <linux/atomic.h> 2011-07-26 16:49:47 -07:00
keys encrypted-keys: add key format support 2011-06-27 09:10:45 -04:00
linux loop: add management interface for on-demand device allocation 2011-07-31 22:08:04 +02:00
math-emu
media [media] V4L: initial driver for ov5642 CMOS sensor 2011-07-27 17:56:09 -03:00
mtd
net atomic: use <linux/atomic.h> 2011-07-26 16:49:47 -07:00
pcmcia Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/brodo/pcmcia-2.6 2011-07-31 06:23:08 -10:00
rdma atomic: use <linux/atomic.h> 2011-07-26 16:49:47 -07:00
rxrpc atomic: use <linux/atomic.h> 2011-07-26 16:49:47 -07:00
scsi Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jejb/scsi-misc-2.6 2011-07-30 08:36:02 -10:00
sound Merge branch 'v4l_for_linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/mchehab/linux-2.6 2011-07-30 00:08:53 -07:00
target target: Bump version to v4.1.0-rc1-ml 2011-07-22 09:37:49 +00:00
trace Merge branch 'upstream/xen-tracing2' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jeremy/xen 2011-07-29 23:33:40 -07:00
video
xen xen/balloon: memory hotplug support for Xen balloon driver 2011-07-25 20:57:08 -07:00
Kbuild