[linux-lvm] LVM2 tools lvmcmdline.c major and minor number limits

[Darren Lavender]

I was wondering whether there was any particular reason why the
limitations below are still present given that these were changed
between 2.4 and 2.6 linux kernels?

Eg:


LVM2/tools/lvmcmdline.c

int minor_arg(struct cmd_context *cmd __attribute((unused)), struct arg *a)
{
        char *ptr;

        if (!_get_int_arg(a, &ptr) || (*ptr) || (a->sign == SIGN_MINUS))
                return 0;

        if (a->i_value > 255) {
                log_error("Minor number outside range 0-255");
                return 0;
        }

        return 1;
}

int major_arg(struct cmd_context *cmd __attribute((unused)), struct arg *a)
{
        char *ptr;

        if (!_get_int_arg(a, &ptr) || (*ptr) || (a->sign == SIGN_MINUS))
                return 0;

        if (a->i_value > 255) {
                log_error("Major number outside range 0-255");
                return 0;
        }

        /* FIXME Also Check against /proc/devices */

        return 1;
}


Linux 2.4 kernel appears to have a major number of 8 bits, likewise for
the minor number.

By comparison, 2.6 appears to have 12 bits for the major and 20 bits for
the minor, significantly larger, eg:


  4 #define MINORBITS       20
  5 #define MINORMASK       ((1U << MINORBITS) - 1)
  6 
  7 #define MAJOR(dev)      ((unsigned int) ((dev) >> MINORBITS))
  8 #define MINOR(dev)      ((unsigned int) ((dev) & MINORMASK))
  9 #define MKDEV(ma,mi)    (((ma) << MINORBITS) | (mi))



Whilst these LVM2 hardcoded limits do not prevent device nodes being
created during normal operation they do prevent the user from specifying
specific major/minor numbers via the cmdline, eg:

 # lvcreate -n bigminor -l 5 -M y --major 253 --minor 270 vgtest
  Minor number outside range 0-255
  Invalid argument 270
  Error during parsing of command line.




Rebuilding without these limits (a quick hack/test) produces a device
node that seems to work just fine:

# ./lvm lvcreate -n highminor -l 5 -M y --major 253 --minor 260 vgtest
  Logical volume "highminor" created

# ll /dev/mapper/
total 128
drwxr-xr-x   2 root root     4096 Feb 12 16:29 .
drwxr-xr-x  35 root root   122880 Feb 12 16:29 ..
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root root       16 Feb 12 15:52 control -> ../device-mapper
brw-------   1 root root 253, 260 Feb 12 16:29 vgtest-highminor
brw-------   1 root root 253, 250 Feb 12 16:04 vgtest-lowminor
brw-------   1 root root 253,   0 Feb 12 16:04 vgtest-nominor



Can this limitation be either removed or updated to bring it in line
with more recent kernel functionality?  Or is there some reason that I
am missing for their continued existence/assigned values.....


Thanks & regards

-- 
Darren Lavender <dl1 at hppine99.gbr.hp.com>