struct platform and struct device queries

struct platform and struct device queries

[Ram]

Hi,
 I am writing a device driver:

 In the probe function i have to give a parameter struct
platform_device * pdev.

 when is the probe function called?. It is not called at
initialisation time (module loading)


 suppose i have a situation where in i need to probe when the module
is inserted how do i do it?


 is it possible to get a struct platform * in the init function of the
driver?.


 Is there any call to get a struct platform * ?


 Also i want to know if it is possible to get a struct device * frtom
any call. i need a struct device * call some functions.

 How do i get it?.


 I know if the upper layer (could be kernel generic code) calls my
driver probe function - it passes a struct platform * or struct device
*.


But, is there any call to get it calling from the init function.


If so, how ?



Please advice,



Regards,
sriram