USB, /dev/sd** problems in 2.6

[ssmarrtass]

I've been having a problem getting some of my USB devices working under 2.6.x.

The problem is with mass storage devices (a camera, and a couple of memory sticks).

I have the storage module compiled into the kernel.

No /dev/sd** devices exist, and I have not been able to figure out why not. I assume it's because I'm missing a module which needs to be loaded in order to use these devices, but I can not seem to figure out which module this would be. If it's something completely different, I would appreciate knowing about that, too, if anyone has run accross this problem before.

I have searched on this for a while, and found nothing particularly relevent, but if you know of anything, please point me that way...

Some possibly relevant output follows:

root /usr/src/linux-2.6.7 # lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 03f0:1204 Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 930c
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 045e:0047 Microsoft Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

root /usr/src/linux-2.6.7 # lsmod
Module Size Used by
nvidia 3469468 12
ipv6 216416 10
ohci_hcd 18052 0
ehci_hcd 27012 0
intel_agp 16924 1
hw_random 4500 0
uhci_hcd 28176 0
eepro100 26124 0
nls_utf8 1792 2
agpgart 26920 2 intel_agp
evdev 7424 0
psmouse 18184 0

dmesg does not show any action when the devices are unplugged and plugged in.

If you need further information, please let me know.

Thanks for any help.

[kevinalm]

When you do

ls -l /dev/sd*

there are no files listed? (may need to be root)

[soulestream]

which distro?

are you using the kernel that came with your disrto of did you upgrade?

[bwkaz]

Does your distro have an /sbin/hotplug script? (If not, it makes perfect sense that nothing happens when you plug it in. The kernel doesn't handle that kind of thing, it just runs /sbin/hotplug with a certain set of arguments and a certain environment, and userspace handles it all.)

Have you tried modprobe'ing usb-storage? (though that might be 2.4's name for it -- I'm not sure if the name changed in 2.6 or not.)

[ssmarrtass]

When you do
ls -l /dev/sd*
there are no files listed? (may need to be root)

Correct. ls: /dev/sd*: No such file or directory

which distro? ...

Slackware 10. currently the 2.6.7 (which is in /testing). I tried using the stock one, and then I modified it some too, no luck either way. I have also given 2.6.8.1 a shot, as well, with the same problem.

Does your distro have an /sbin/hotplug script?

Yes, it does. Not exactly sure how to do anything with it at the moment, and I am away from my computer, but will try to figure out if this may be causing my problems when I get back to my computer.

Also, I have the usb-storage module compiled into the kernel (since it's something I use pretty frequently), so I don't believe that I should need to modprobe it in. Additionally, since it wasn't compiled as a module, I can't modprobe it. You think this could be causing a problem?

Thanks for the suggestions and questions.

I appreciate any feed back.

Thanks.

[kevinalm]

The lack of /dev/sd* devices is the immediate problem. If you're using udev then possibly this is caused by a problem in udev or hotplug configuration.

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by ssmarrtass
Slackware 10. currently the 2.6.7 (which is in /testing). OK, so you're also using udev.

Check the /sys/block directory (make sure sysfs is mounted on /sys, but I'm pretty sure it will be) to see if there are any sd* files. If you have SCSI disk support (and you have any SCSI disks, such as the ones that usb-storage emulates), then there should be.

udev uses the /sys/block directory to figure out which block device files to create, so if the entry is in there, it should be in /dev (assuming udev is configured correctly). (udev also uses /sys/class to figure out which character devices to create, if you're wondering about that.)

The missing part might be SCSI disk support -- is that set up as a module or built into the kernel also? I don't expect that the kernel would let you build usb-storage into the kernel if SCSI disk support wasn't also built in, but you never know.

[ssmarrtass]

Ok, it now works. Apparently, one of the USB ports crapped out...

Oddly enough, it still shows up in lsusb, but just doesn't work.

Sorry for wasting your time, but thanks for your help.