Re: Migrating to larger numbers
H. Peter Anvin (hpa@transmeta.com)
Mon, 07 Jun 1999 08:39:27 -0700
Alan Cox wrote:
>
> > If the dev is too big for the current format, stick -1 in the
> > block pointer used by the current format, and use the N (for
> > 1 <= N <= 4, depending on the filesystem) subsequent block
> > pointers to hold the real device number.)
> >
> > I suggest, as you say, a 32:32 split (it's simple).
>
> 64bit dev_t's are going to cause some real problems. I would suggest you
> try passing a 64bit dev_t over NFS - especially to non unix clients before
> you do this.
>
> If you go to a 64bit dev_t you will have to do hackish horrors for NFS support
> even Linux to Linux. Stay with a 32bit dev_t, supporting more device files
> than we can create 1 a second within our epoch is crazy
>
Not really... some devices have a legitimate need for a sparse minor
number space. I'd be interested in how HP/UX deals with this; they've
had a fairly large dev_t for aeons.
-hpa
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