xref: /freebsd/share/examples/kld/cdev/README (revision f0adf7f5cdd241db2f2c817683191a6ef64a4e95)
1# Copyright (c) 1998 Rajesh Vaidheeswarran
2# All rights reserved.
3#
4# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
5# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
6# are met:
7# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
8#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
9# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
10#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
11#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
12# 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
13#    must display the following acknowledgement:
14#      This product includes software developed by Rajesh Vaidheeswarran
15# 4. The name Rajesh Vaidheeswarran may not be used to endorse or promote
16#    products derived from this software without specific prior written
17#    permission.
18#
19# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY RAJESH VAIDHEESWARRAN ``AS IS'' AND ANY
20# EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
21# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
22# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE RAJESH VAIDHEESWARRAN BE LIABLE
23# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
24# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
25# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
26# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
27# LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
28# OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
29# SUCH DAMAGE.
30#
31# Copyright (c) 1993 Terrence R. Lambert.
32# All rights reserved.
33#
34# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
35# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
36# are met:
37# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
38#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
39# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
40#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
41#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
42# 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
43#    must display the following acknowledgement:
44#      This product includes software developed by Terrence R. Lambert.
45# 4. The name Terrence R. Lambert may not be used to endorse or promote
46#    products derived from this software without specific prior written
47#    permission.
48#
49# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY TERRENCE R. LAMBERT ``AS IS'' AND ANY
50# EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
51# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
52# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE TERRENCE R. LAMBERT BE LIABLE
53# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
54# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
55# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
56# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
57# LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
58# OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
59# SUCH DAMAGE.
60#
61# $FreeBSD$
62#
63
641.0	Overview
65
66	This is the README file for the sample kld module
67	that mimics a character device driver.
68
69	A kld module may be used to load any data or
70	program into the kernel that can be made available by
71	modifying a table, pointer, or other kernel data to inform
72	the kernel that the module should be used instead of the
73	previous code/data path.
74
75	Generally, it is assumed that a loadable module is one of
76	a set of similar modules (such as a file system or console
77	terminal emulation), and that the reference is through a
78	table (such as vfssw[]), and that a "special" value is
79	assigned to the slots which are allowed to be replaced.
80	This is not enforced, so you may use the kld module
81	any way you see fit.
82
83	As with the loadable system calls, it may be desirable to
84	allow the module loader to replace an *existing* entry to
85	try out changes to kernel code without rebuilding and
86	booting from the new kernel.
87
88	The idea behind this example is to show some interaction
89	with the device driver. Therefore the flow of the code that
90	this driver is aimed at is as follows:
91
92	    open(2) -> ioctl(2) -> write(2) -> read(2) -> close(2).
93
94	We will first open the device in the /dev/ directory; then
95	we will send an ioctl message to it using ioctl(2) call;
96	then write a small string via the write(2) call. This string
97	we write to the device will be stored in a static buffer,
98	and later will be accessible via the read(2) call. Finally,
99	we will close(2) our open()'d device so that we may no
100	longer make read or write calls on it.
101
1022.0	Directions
103
104	To test the module, do the following:
105
106		cd module
107		make load
108
109	A load message (the copyright) will be printed on the console.
110
111		cd ../test
112		make load
113
114	The system call prints a message on the console when called.
115	This message will be printed when running "make load" in
116	the "test" subdirectory.
117
118
1193.0	Recovering resources
120
121	The module consumes memory when loaded; it can be freed up by
122	unloading it.  To unload it, type the following from the directory
123	this file is in:
124
125		cd module
126		make unload
127
128	The miscellaneous module will be unloaded by name.
129
130
1314.0	END OF DOCUMENT
132