diff --git a/Documentation/console/console.txt b/Documentation/console/console.txt index f93810d599ad..d73c2ab4beda 100644 --- a/Documentation/console/console.txt +++ b/Documentation/console/console.txt @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ Console Drivers =============== -The linux kernel has 2 general types of console drivers. The first type is +The Linux kernel has 2 general types of console drivers. The first type is assigned by the kernel to all the virtual consoles during the boot process. This type will be called 'system driver', and only one system driver is allowed to exist. The system driver is persistent and it can never be unloaded, though @@ -17,10 +17,11 @@ of driver occupying the consoles.) They can only take over the console that is occupied by the system driver. In the same token, if the modular driver is released by the console, the system driver will take over. -Modular drivers, from the programmer's point of view, has to call: +Modular drivers, from the programmer's point of view, have to call: do_take_over_console() - load and bind driver to console layer - give_up_console() - unload driver, it will only work if driver is fully unbond + give_up_console() - unload driver; it will only work if driver + is fully unbound In newer kernels, the following are also available: @@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ What do these files signify? cat /sys/class/vtconsole/vtcon0/name (S) VGA+ - '(S)' stands for a (S)ystem driver, ie, it cannot be directly + '(S)' stands for a (S)ystem driver, i.e., it cannot be directly commanded to bind or unbind 'VGA+' is the name of the driver @@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ driver, make changes, recompile, reload and rebind the driver without any need for rebooting the kernel. For regular users who may want to switch from framebuffer console to VGA console and vice versa, this feature also makes this possible. (NOTE NOTE NOTE: Please read fbcon.txt under Documentation/fb -for more details). +for more details.) Notes for developers: ===================== @@ -110,8 +111,8 @@ In order for binding to and unbinding from the console to properly work, console drivers must follow these guidelines: 1. All drivers, except system drivers, must call either do_register_con_driver() - or do_take_over_console(). do_register_con_driver() will just add the driver to - the console's internal list. It won't take over the + or do_take_over_console(). do_register_con_driver() will just add the driver + to the console's internal list. It won't take over the console. do_take_over_console(), as it name implies, will also take over (or bind to) the console.