What is it?
Hotplug2 is a trivial replacement of some of the UDev functionality in a tiny pack, intended for Linux early userspace: Init RAM FS and InitRD. The binary is (x86, dynamically linked against glibc) 18 KiB with -Os (v0.9). Yet it includes ability to parse rules and execute actions accordingly. It basically takes the best from both worlds -- the flexibility of udev with the distributing events design of hotplug. It can be used to create devices or to just load modules (which is it's primary goal).
I have to re-emphasize that this is not an udev replacement for desktop boxes. This is udev replacement for specific cases, that is early userspace and possibly embedded devices. That's it.
Longer description available in the announce mail at linux-hotplug-devel.
Since 0.8, Linux 2.4 support is available. Longer description is available below in documentation section and in the second announce mail at linux-hotplug-devel
Benchmark?
I've attempted to create a fair benchmarking environment. Please see the results of the benchmark.
What does it need?
A Linux kernel able to perform hotplug. This can be either 2.4 or 2.6 series kernel. In 2.6, recommendation is 2.6.14 or newer. Please note that for older 2.6 kernels (probably something older than 2.6.8), you should probalby use the 2.4 method instead.
Binary 'udevtrigger' from udev is necessary on 2.6 for initial devices detection, however, using --no-udevtrigger parameter, it can be switched off. Application 'hotplug2-coldplug-2.4' is provided for initial devices detection on 2.4 kernels.
Where to download it?
You can download it here: Hotplug2 0.9 [CZ/HTTP]
Changelog (0.8->0.9):
- Use signals to handle children (implies cleanup in event loop).
- Separate info and debugging output.
- Minor cleanups.
There's also a beta release, Hotplug2 1.0 beta [CZ/HTTP].
There is also a SVN repository (thanks to nomi.cz and Liskni_si). To check out, use:
svn co https://svn.nomi.cz/svn/isteve/hotplug2
Documentation?
Available: hotplug2 (8), rules documentation, description of 2.4 hotplug2 inteface, description of 2.6 inteface, basic usage document.
Extra: hotplug2-coldplug-2.4 (8), hotplug2-modwrap (8), hotplug2-dnode (8), generate_alias (8)
How to contact the author?
isteve [at] boSPAMSUCKSfh [dot] cz
[do not forget to de-antispam;)]