Solaris::DeviceTree
===================


WHAT IS IT

The "Solaris::DeviceTree" module implements access to the
Solaris device information. The information is collected
from the kernel via access to libdevinfo, the contents of
the file "/etc/path_to_inst" and the filesystem entries
below "/dev" and "/devices". The devicetree is presented as
a hierarchical collection of nodes. 

A script for devicetree inspection (devtree) is included.
Just call 'devtree' without arguments or look at the
manpage for details.

Please note that the quality of the code is still experimental.


CONTACT

The project is hosted at sourceforge. Feel free to visit the
project homepage at

  http://devicetool.sourceforge.net

Do not hesitate to contact me at

  pkg@baltic-online.de

about flaws, the API or other improvements.


OS SUPPORT

This software needs at least Solaris 7 because the libdevinfo
API was introduced in this release. Solaris 2.6 has a libdevinfo
but uses a different API and can not be used.

It might be a good idea to check in the Makefile.PL for the availability
of libdevinfo and skip the module if the library is not available.
This would allow access to path_to_inst and /devices even in releases
before Solaris 7. However I have not done this yet.

The module should compile nicely under x86 although I had no chance
to test it.


INSTALLATION

To install this module type the following:

   perl Makefile.PL
   make
   make test
   make install

This compiles the native interfaces and installs the library
and the devtree binary. To rebuild the C files from the SWIG
you can issue the command

   bootstrap

Of course you need SWIG for that. I used 1.3.19, older
versions may not work due to some template improvements.

For smooth installation on Solaris 9 systems you can build
a Solaris package as add-on to the perl shipped with the os.
Use

   makepkg solperlcc

to build the package using the Sun C compiler (now called "Forte").


LICENSE

    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
    it under the terms of either:

        a) the GNU General Public License as published by the Free
        Software Foundation; either version 1, or (at your option) any
        later version, or

        b) the "Artistic License" which comes with this Kit.

    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See either
    the GNU General Public License or the Artistic License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the Artistic License with this
    Kit, in the file named "Artistic".  If not, I'll be glad to provide one.

    You should also have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    along with this program in the file named "Copying". If not, write to the 
    Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 
    02111-1307, USA or visit their web page on the internet at
    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html.

    For those of you that choose to use the GNU General Public License,
    my interpretation of the GNU General Public License is that no Perl
    script falls under the terms of the GPL unless you explicitly put
    said script under the terms of the GPL yourself.  Furthermore, any
    object code linked with perl does not automatically fall under the
    terms of the GPL, provided such object code only adds definitions
    of subroutines and variables, and does not otherwise impair the
    resulting interpreter from executing any standard Perl script.  I
    consider linking in C subroutines in this manner to be the moral
    equivalent of defining subroutines in the Perl language itself.  You
    may sell such an object file as proprietary provided that you provide
    or offer to provide the Perl source, as specified by the GNU General
    Public License.  (This is merely an alternate way of specifying input
    to the program.)  You may also sell a binary produced by the dumping of
    a running Perl script that belongs to you, provided that you provide or
    offer to provide the Perl source as specified by the GPL.  (The
    fact that a Perl interpreter and your code are in the same binary file
    is, in this case, a form of mere aggregation.)  This is my interpretation
    of the GPL.  If you still have concerns or difficulties understanding
    my intent, feel free to contact me.  Of course, the Artistic License
    spells all this out for your protection, so you may prefer to use that.