Unified device model

• Th 2.6 kernel included a significant new feature: a unified device model

• Instead of having different ad-hoc mechanisms in the various subsystems, the device model unifies the description of the devices and their topology

• Minimization of code duplication
• Common facilities (reference counting, event notification, power management, etc.)
• Enumerate the devices view their interconnections, link the devices to their buses and drivers, etc.

• Understand the device model is necessary to understand how device drivers fit into the Linux kernel architecture.