Kernel Configuration Part XXX

Kernel Configuration - Part XXX

I wouldn’t have guessed that the kernel configuration series would go a full 30
parts, plus. But, there’s so much to talk about, and we’ve got nothing but time,

right?

Today’s installment looks into USB support in the Linux kernel. This is an area
that has seen massive improvement over the past 18 months. Prior to the release
of the 2.4 kernel, USB support could only be added by kernel patches and serious

hacking. With the release of 2.4, full USB support became a reality for the
first time in Linux.

While there’s full support for USB, there are a few things to be aware of.
First, this varies from the Input Core support that we talked about in an
earlier installation of the kernel configuration series. Input Core support
provides the lowest level drivers necessary for USB devices to communicate with
the kernel. Because the range of USB devices continues to grow, your system will

need yet another layer on top of the input core. That’s the point of the USB
support section.

The range of devices is staggering and growing daily. Bluetooth, mass storage
devices, printers, modems, scanners, cameras, network cards - all are available
using the USB protocol. I know I’ve said this many, many times during the course

of this series: It’s critically important to know the devices attached to your
machine. With that knowledge in hand, you’ll be able to select the correct
devices and protocols to make them operate fully in Linux. The support is there
- you just need to know exactly what type of support you’ll need.

One quick personal aside on USB support. UHCI/OHCI support is critical. However,

it’s tough to tell sometimes which protocol your system will require. You can do

one of two things. First, you could build modules for both, allowing the system
to decide which it needs. Or, you can check the Hardware

Compatibility List for supported USB devices.

Monday, we’ll talk about Bluetooth support.