[PATCH] VT binding: Add binding/unbinding support for the VT console

The framebuffer console is now able to dynamically bind and unbind from the VT
console layer.  Due to the way the VT console layer works, the drivers
themselves decide when to bind or unbind.  However, it was decided that
binding must be controlled, not by the drivers themselves, but by the VT
console layer.  With this, dynamic binding is possible for all VT console
drivers, not just fbcon.

Thus, the VT console layer will impose the following to all VT console
drivers:

- all registered VT console drivers will be entered in a private list
- drivers can register themselves to the VT console layer, but they cannot
  decide when to bind or unbind. (Exception: To maintain backwards
  compatibility, take_over_console() will automatically bind the driver after
  registration.)
- drivers can remove themselves from the list by unregistering from the VT
  console layer. A prerequisite for unregistration is that the driver must not
  be bound.

The following functions are new in the vt.c:

register_con_driver() - public function, this function adds the VT console
driver to an internal list maintained by the VT console

bind_con_driver() - private function, it binds the driver to the console

take_over_console() is changed to call register_con_driver() followed by a
bind_con_driver().  This is the only time drivers can decide when to bind to
the VT layer.  This is to maintain backwards compatibility.

unbind_con_driver() - private function, it unbinds the driver from its
console.  The vacated consoles will be taken over by the default boot console
driver.

unregister_con_driver() - public function, removes the driver from the
internal list maintained by the VT console.  It will only succeed if the
driver is currently unbound.

con_is_bound() checks if the driver is currently bound or not

give_up_console() is just a wrapper to unregister_con_driver().

There are also 3 additional functions meant to be called only by the tty layer
for sysfs control:

	vt_bind() - calls bind_con_driver()
	vt_unbind() - calls unbind_con_driver()
	vt_show_drivers() - shows the list of registered drivers

Most VT console drivers will continue to work as is, but might have problems
when unbinding or binding which should be fixable with minimal changes.

Signed-off-by: Antonino Daplas <adaplas@pol.net>
Signed-off-by: Andrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org>
Signed-off-by: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org>

1 files changed, 3 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/include/linux/console.h b/include/linux/console.h
index d0f8a8009490..3bdf2155e565 100644
--- a/include/linux/console.h
+++ b/include/linux/console.h
@@ -63,9 +63,11 @@ extern const struct consw vga_con;	/* VGA text console */
 extern const struct consw newport_con;  /* SGI Newport console  */
 extern const struct consw prom_con;     /* SPARC PROM console */
 
+int con_is_bound(const struct consw *csw);
+int register_con_driver(const struct consw *csw, int first, int last);
+int unregister_con_driver(const struct consw *csw);
 int take_over_console(const struct consw *sw, int first, int last, int deflt);
 void give_up_console(const struct consw *sw);
-
 /* scroll */
 #define SM_UP       (1)
 #define SM_DOWN     (2)