Device methods are programs associated with a device that perform basic device configuration operations. These operations consist of defining, undefining, configuring, unconfiguring, and reconfiguring a device. Some devices also use optional start and stop operations.
There are five basic device methods:
| Define | Creates a device instance in the Customized database. |
| Configure | Configures a device instance already represented in the Customized database. This method is responsible for making a device available for use in the system. |
| Change | Reconfigures a device by allowing device characteristics or attributes to be changed. |
| Unconfigure | Makes a configured device unavailable for use in the system. The device instance remains in the Customized database but must be reconfigured before it can be used. |
| Undefine | Deletes a device instance from the Customized database. |
Some devices also require these two optional methods:
| Stop | Provides the ability to stop a device without actually unconfiguring it. For example, a command can be issued to the device driver telling it to stop accepting normal I/O requests. |
| Start | Starts a device that has been stopped with the Stop method. For example, a command can be issued to the device driver informing it that it can now accept normal I/O requests. |
One device method can invoke another device method. For instance, a Configure method for a device may need to invoke the Define method for child devices. The Change method can invoke the Unconfigure and Configure methods. To ensure proper operation, a method that invokes another method must always use the odm_run_method subroutine.
See the /usr/samples directory for example device method source code. These source code excerpts are provided for example purposes only. The examples do not function as written.
Adding an Unsupported Device to the System.
ODM Device Configuration Object Classes.
Understanding Device Methods Interfaces.
The odm_run_method subroutine.