Kudzu is a

computer hardware Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the computer case, case, central processing unit (CPU), Random-access memory, random access memory (RAM), Computer monitor, monitor, Computer mouse, mouse, Computer keyboard, ...

probing

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(written by

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) which relies on a

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of hardware device information. It is not to be confused with

kudzu Kudzu (; also called Japanese arrowroot or Chinese arrowroot) is a group of climbing, coiling, and trailing deciduous perennial vines native to much of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands, but invasive species, invasive in many ...

, a vine-like plant.

Description

When the

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, kudzu detects changes in the running system's hardware

configuration Configuration or configurations may refer to: Computing * Computer configuration or system configuration * Configuration file, a software file used to configure the initial settings for a computer program * Configurator, also known as choice board ...

, if any, and activates the newly detected hardware (or removal of hardware). kudzu only runs at boot time, and then exits. There is no

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penalty during normal operation. (Since

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release Release may refer to: * Art release, the public distribution of an artistic production, such as a film, album, or song * Legal release, a legal instrument * News release, a communication directed at the news media * Release (ISUP), a code to ident ...

9, kudzu is superseded by

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) kudzu detects and configures new and/or changed hardware on a system. When started, kudzu detects the current hardware, and checks it against a database stored in /etc/sysconfig/hwconf, if one exists. It then determines if any hardware has been added or removed from the system. If so, it gives the users the opportunity to configure any added hardware, and unconfigure any removed hardware. It then updates the database in /etc/sysconfig/hwconf. If no previous database exists, kudzu attempts to determine what devices have already been configured, by looking at /etc/modprobe.conf, /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/, and /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

Options usage

—help, -? : Print help information. -q, --quiet : Run 'quietly'; do only configuration that doesn't require user input. -s, --safe : Do only 'safe' probes that won't disturb hardware. Currently, this disables the serial probe, the DDC monitor probe, and the PS/2 probe. -t, --timeout econds: This sets the timeout for the initial dialog. If no key is pressed before the timeout elapses, kudzu exits, and /etc/sysconfig/hwconf is not updated. -k, --kernel ersion: When determining whether a module exists, use the specified kernel version. (If this is not set, it defaults to the current kernel version.) Do not specify suffixes such as 'smp' or 'summit'; these are automatically searched. -b, --bus us: Only probe on the specified bus. -c, --class

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: Only probe for the specified class. -f, --file

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: Read hardware probe info from file file and do not do an actual probe. -p, --probe : Print probe information to the screen, and do not actually configure or unconfigure any devices.

Files

/etc/sysconfig/hwconf : Listing of current installed hardware. /etc/sysconfig/kudzu : Configuration for the boot-time hardware probe. Set 'SAFE' to something other than 'no' to force only safe probes. /etc/modprobe.conf : Module configuration file. /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-* : Network interface configuration files.

Bugs

The serial probe will disturb any currently in-use devices, and returns odd results if used on machines acting as serial consoles. On some older graphics cards, the DDC probe can do strange things. Running kudzu to configure network adapters post-boot after the network has started may have unintended results.

References

{{cite web, url=https://linux.die.net/man/8/kudzu, title=kudzu(8) - Linux man page, author=Red Hat, Inc, access-date=2020-09-01

External links

*https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Anaconda/Features/NoMoreKudzu Free utility software Red Hat software Linux process- and task-management-related software