Subject: Re: Possible new device name
To: None <jeremy@broder.com>
From: Andrew Gillham <gillhaa@ghost.whirlpool.com>
List: tech-kern
Date: 01/20/1997 22:17:52
Jeremy Cooper wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 20 Jan 1997, Kevin Van Maren wrote:
> 
> > > [ pp0 for parallel port name on sun3x ]
> > 
> > I don;t think we need *more* names: just use lpt, and put it in a README
> > for people upgrading from SunOS.
> 
> I thought about this, but lpt conjures up the image that it is a 'line
> printer port', which isn't necessarily so - it's simply a parallel port,
> although commonly used for printing.

Considering the number of parallel port devices out there, shouldn't
lpt really be a device that attaches to a "parallel port bus?"
I would potentially see devices like these available:
	ppbus0 at ... 0x378
	ppbus1 at ... 0x278
	lpt0 at ppbus0 ...
	zip0 at ppbus0 ...
	quickcam0 at ppbus0 ...
	plip0 at ppbus0 ...
	dongle0 at ppbus0 ...
	xircom0 at ppbus0 ...
	blinky0 at ppbus0 ...
	audio0 at ppbus0 ...

Ok, I can't think of anymore right now.. :)  Anyway, my point is that
a parallel port can be quite a bit more than a printer port, so why
restrict it to being an 'lpt' port?  There is "normal", EPP, and ECP
to consider as well.

-Andrew