Re: 2.4.17pre2: devfs: devfs_mk_dir(printers): could not append to dir: dffe45c0 "", err: -17

[Richard Gooch <rgooch@ras.ucalgary.ca>]

linux-kernel@borntraeger.net writes:
> I found the reason for these messages. It has a boot-script source.
> Mandrake stores the attributes of device nodes in /lib/dev-state.
> This directory is copied into /dev directly before devfsd is started.

OK, clean out stuff you don't need in /lib/dev-state. Check your
devfsd configuation to see if /lib/dev-state is being repopulated
automatically. If so, grab devfsd-v1.3.20 and use the new RESTORE
directive. This is the correct way to handle persistence. Remove the
boot-script code which populates from /lib/dev-state.

> If there is a device file in /lib/dev-state it is created in /dev
> even before the driver is loaded.  When the driver is loaded it
> tries again to create the node and the message appears.

OK, I suspected as much. Good. Thanks for tracking this down.
Attempting to create the same entry twice *should* yield EEXIST on the
second try. The new devfs is strict about this, the old one wasn't.

I consider this issue closed. I'd suggest you contact Mandrake and get
them to upgrade to devfsd-v1.3.20, remove the boot script code and use
the RESTORE directive instead. This requires v1.2 of the devfs core
(found in 2.4.17-pre1).

				Regards,

					Richard....
Permanent: rgooch@atnf.csiro.au
Current:   rgooch@ras.ucalgary.ca