# Re: \[PATCH 1/2\] char\_dev: allow setting up and pinning parent devices

- From: Al Viro \<viro@ZenIV.linux.org.uk\>
- Date: 2012-10-21 07:39:34 
- List: linux-input
- Page: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-input/2012/10/3942816
- Thread: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-input/2012/10/3942813/t.md

```text
On Sun, Oct 21, 2012 at 12:24:30AM -0700, Dmitry Torokhov wrote:
> In certain cases (for example when a cdev structure is embedded into
> another object whose lifetime is controlled by a separate device object)
> it is beneficial to tie lifetime of another struct device to the lifetime
> of character device so that related object is not freed until after
> char_dev object is freed. To achieve this allow setting a "parent" device
> for character devices and pin them when doing cdev_add() and unpin when
> last reference to cdev structure is being released.

Why struct device and not simply struct kobject?
```