Comment on devfs.conf

[Jeff Walters]

The new /etc/devfs.conf arrangement is a good thing but it doesn't work for 
devices that are created on the fly after boot, and it gives an error on 
wildcards on device names.  

I suggest for /etc/rc.d/devfs that instead of changing the permissions and 
ownerships directly on device nodes, create a default devfs ruleset based on 
/etc/devfs.conf entries and apply the set.  For example, previously you could 
modify /etc/rc.devfs with the logic like:

#### Customizations
# define ruleset number for following rules
devfs ruleset 10
devfs rule delset

# define custom rules
# give operator access to the CDs, floppy and USB Compact Flash drives
devfs rule add path "acd*" group operator mode 660
devfs rule add path "fd0*" group operator mode 660
devfs rule add path "da*" group operator mode 660

# apply ruleset
devfs rule applyset

Currently devfs.conf doesn't do the corresponding thing.  I have a small patch 
(I could submit (where?)) on /etc/rc.d/devfs, and adds the ability to put a 
"rule" type of line in /etc/devfs.conf:

# give operator access to the CD, floppy and Compact Flash drives
rule   "acd*"   group operator mode 660
rule   "fd0*"   group operator mode 660
rule   "da*"    group operator mode 660

... and have devfs ruleset 10 (arbitrary) created and applied with these 
rules, if anyone else likes the idea.


Jeff