3 files changed, 24 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/block/Kconfig b/block/Kconfig
index b6f5f0a79655..9af6c614dfde 100644
--- a/block/Kconfig
+++ b/block/Kconfig
@@ -1,6 +1,24 @@
 #
 # Block layer core configuration
 #
+config BLOCK
+       bool "Enable the block layer"
+       default y
+       help
+         This permits the block layer to be removed from the kernel if it's not
+         needed (on some embedded devices for example).  If this option is
+         disabled, then blockdev files will become unusable and some
+         filesystems (such as ext3) will become unavailable.
+
+         This option will also disable SCSI character devices and USB storage
+         since they make use of various block layer definitions and
+         facilities.
+
+         Say Y here unless you know you really don't want to mount disks and
+         suchlike.
+
+if BLOCK
+
 #XXX - it makes sense to enable this only for 32-bit subarch's, not for x86_64
 #for instance.
 config LBD
@@ -33,4 +51,6 @@ config LSF
 
           If unsure, say Y.
 
+endif
+
 source block/Kconfig.iosched
diff --git a/block/Kconfig.iosched b/block/Kconfig.iosched
index 48d090e266fc..903f0d3b6852 100644
--- a/block/Kconfig.iosched
+++ b/block/Kconfig.iosched
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+if BLOCK
 
 menu "IO Schedulers"
 
@@ -67,3 +68,5 @@ config DEFAULT_IOSCHED
         default "noop" if DEFAULT_NOOP
 
 endmenu
+
+endif
diff --git a/block/Makefile b/block/Makefile
index c05de0e0037f..4b84d0d5947b 100644
--- a/block/Makefile
+++ b/block/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Makefile for the kernel block layer
 #
 
-obj-y   := elevator.o ll_rw_blk.o ioctl.o genhd.o scsi_ioctl.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_BLOCK) := elevator.o ll_rw_blk.o ioctl.o genhd.o scsi_ioctl.o
 
 obj-$(CONFIG_IOSCHED_NOOP)      += noop-iosched.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_IOSCHED_AS)        += as-iosched.o