Linux Device Drivers

Learn the important facets of Linux device drivers—what they are, what each type can do, and how to compile, debug, and add functionality to your drivers.

Introduction

• Explore Linux device drivers
• What you should know

1. How Loadable Modules Work

• Describe the benefits of loadable modules
• Effectively use module commands
• Use and define module parameters
• Work with licensing and modules
• Challenge: Work with loadable modules
• Solution: Work with loadable modules

2. Compiling and Debugging

• Writing a loadable kernel module
• Build and load a loadable module
• Use printk() for tracing and debugging
• Use tracing and debugging
• Challenge: Write, trace, debug
• Solution: Write, trace, debug

3. Character Device Drivers

• Create and use device files
• Implement character device driver file operations
• Write a character device driver
• Understand the user and kernel address spaces
• Challenge: Write a character driver
• Solution: Write a character driver

4. Block Drivers

• Use block device files
• Describe the function of the block layer
• Implement block driver operations
• Handle the block request queue
• Challenge: Write a block driver
• Solution: Write a block driver

5. Network Drivers

• Look at the role of network device drivers
• Examine the net_device_ops structure
• Examine PCI related API in network drivers
• Challenge: Using tools with a network driver
• Solution: Using tools with a network driver

Conclusion

• Learn more about Linux device drivers