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@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
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Alan Stern <stern@rowland.harvard.edu>
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Alan Stern <stern@rowland.harvard.edu>
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- September 2, 2006 (Updated May 29, 2007)
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+ September 2, 2006 (Updated February 25, 2008)
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What is the problem?
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What is the problem?
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@@ -65,9 +65,10 @@ much better.)
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What is the solution?
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What is the solution?
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-Setting CONFIG_USB_PERSIST will cause the kernel to work around these
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-issues. It enables a mode in which the core USB device data
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-structures are allowed to persist across a power-session disruption.
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+The kernel includes a feature called USB-persist. It tries to work
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+around these issues by allowing the core USB device data structures to
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+persist across a power-session disruption.
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+
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It works like this. If the kernel sees that a USB host controller is
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It works like this. If the kernel sees that a USB host controller is
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not in the expected state during resume (i.e., if the controller was
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not in the expected state during resume (i.e., if the controller was
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reset or otherwise had lost power) then it applies a persistence check
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reset or otherwise had lost power) then it applies a persistence check
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@@ -80,28 +81,30 @@ re-enumeration shows that the device now attached to that port has the
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same descriptors as before, including the Vendor and Product IDs, then
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same descriptors as before, including the Vendor and Product IDs, then
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the kernel continues to use the same device structure. In effect, the
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the kernel continues to use the same device structure. In effect, the
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kernel treats the device as though it had merely been reset instead of
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kernel treats the device as though it had merely been reset instead of
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-unplugged.
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+unplugged. The same thing happens if the host controller is in the
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+expected state but a USB device was unplugged and then replugged.
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If no device is now attached to the port, or if the descriptors are
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If no device is now attached to the port, or if the descriptors are
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different from what the kernel remembers, then the treatment is what
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different from what the kernel remembers, then the treatment is what
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you would expect. The kernel destroys the old device structure and
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you would expect. The kernel destroys the old device structure and
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behaves as though the old device had been unplugged and a new device
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behaves as though the old device had been unplugged and a new device
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-plugged in, just as it would without the CONFIG_USB_PERSIST option.
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+plugged in.
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The end result is that the USB device remains available and usable.
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The end result is that the USB device remains available and usable.
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Filesystem mounts and memory mappings are unaffected, and the world is
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Filesystem mounts and memory mappings are unaffected, and the world is
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now a good and happy place.
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now a good and happy place.
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-Note that even when CONFIG_USB_PERSIST is set, the "persist" feature
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-will be applied only to those devices for which it is enabled. You
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-can enable the feature by doing (as root):
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+Note that the "USB-persist" feature will be applied only to those
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+devices for which it is enabled. You can enable the feature by doing
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+(as root):
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echo 1 >/sys/bus/usb/devices/.../power/persist
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echo 1 >/sys/bus/usb/devices/.../power/persist
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where the "..." should be filled in the with the device's ID. Disable
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where the "..." should be filled in the with the device's ID. Disable
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the feature by writing 0 instead of 1. For hubs the feature is
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the feature by writing 0 instead of 1. For hubs the feature is
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-automatically and permanently enabled, so you only have to worry about
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-setting it for devices where it really matters.
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+automatically and permanently enabled and the power/persist file
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+doesn't even exist, so you only have to worry about setting it for
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+devices where it really matters.
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Is this the best solution?
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Is this the best solution?
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@@ -112,19 +115,19 @@ centralized Logical Volume Manager. Such a solution would allow you
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to plug in a USB flash device, create a persistent volume associated
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to plug in a USB flash device, create a persistent volume associated
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with it, unplug the flash device, plug it back in later, and still
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with it, unplug the flash device, plug it back in later, and still
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have the same persistent volume associated with the device. As such
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have the same persistent volume associated with the device. As such
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-it would be more far-reaching than CONFIG_USB_PERSIST.
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+it would be more far-reaching than USB-persist.
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On the other hand, writing a persistent volume manager would be a big
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On the other hand, writing a persistent volume manager would be a big
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job and using it would require significant input from the user. This
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job and using it would require significant input from the user. This
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solution is much quicker and easier -- and it exists now, a giant
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solution is much quicker and easier -- and it exists now, a giant
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point in its favor!
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point in its favor!
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-Furthermore, the USB_PERSIST option applies to _all_ USB devices, not
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+Furthermore, the USB-persist feature applies to _all_ USB devices, not
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just mass-storage devices. It might turn out to be equally useful for
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just mass-storage devices. It might turn out to be equally useful for
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other device types, such as network interfaces.
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other device types, such as network interfaces.
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- WARNING: Using CONFIG_USB_PERSIST can be dangerous!!
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+ WARNING: USB-persist can be dangerous!!
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When recovering an interrupted power session the kernel does its best
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When recovering an interrupted power session the kernel does its best
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to make sure the USB device hasn't been changed; that is, the same
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to make sure the USB device hasn't been changed; that is, the same
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@@ -152,5 +155,5 @@ but yourself.
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YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
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YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
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That having been said, most of the time there shouldn't be any trouble
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That having been said, most of the time there shouldn't be any trouble
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-at all. The "persist" feature can be extremely useful. Make the most
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-of it.
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+at all. The USB-persist feature can be extremely useful. Make the
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+most of it.
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