Re: [PATCH 1/2] char_dev: allow setting up and pinning parent devices

On Sun, Oct 21, 2012 at 08:39:28AM +0100, Al Viro wrote:

On Sun, Oct 21, 2012 at 12:24:30AM -0700, Dmitry Torokhov wrote:

quoted

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?

It was more convenient for my uses and I also think that parents of
character devices will be struct devices... I however will not insist
and if you prefer using more generic kobject I can change it,

Thanks.

-- 
Dmitry