: I've looked over the code, and went through the kdev_t.h file.
: I don't like the idea of using different internal/external majors/minors.
: Is it necessary?
In the long run there is no reason to have internal majors/minors.
Internally there is a struct kdev_t that gives the name, blocksize, size,
read-ahead etc. etc. of a device.
At present the kernel still uses major or minor as an index in some
tables, but with larger dev_t that is impossible, and there is no
longer any reason for the kernel to use major/minor.
Andries