1 /proc/bus/usb filesystem output
2 ===============================
6 The usbfs filesystem for USB devices is traditionally mounted at
7 /proc/bus/usb. It provides the /proc/bus/usb/devices file, as well as
8 the /proc/bus/usb/BBB/DDD files.
11 **NOTE**: If /proc/bus/usb appears empty, and a host controller
12 driver has been linked, then you need to mount the
13 filesystem. Issue the command (as root):
15 mount -t usbfs none /proc/bus/usb
17 An alternative and more permanent method would be to add
19 none /proc/bus/usb usbfs defaults 0 0
21 to /etc/fstab. This will mount usbfs at each reboot.
22 You can then issue `cat /proc/bus/usb/devices` to extract
23 USB device information, and user mode drivers can use usbfs
24 to interact with USB devices.
26 There are a number of mount options supported by usbfs.
27 Consult the source code (linux/drivers/usb/core/inode.c) for
28 information about those options.
30 **NOTE**: The filesystem has been renamed from "usbdevfs" to
31 "usbfs", to reduce confusion with "devfs". You may
32 still see references to the older "usbdevfs" name.
34 For more information on mounting the usbfs file system, see the
35 "USB Device Filesystem" section of the USB Guide. The latest copy
36 of the USB Guide can be found at http://www.linux-usb.org/
39 THE /proc/bus/usb/BBB/DDD FILES:
40 --------------------------------
41 Each connected USB device has one file. The BBB indicates the bus
42 number. The DDD indicates the device address on that bus. Both
43 of these numbers are assigned sequentially, and can be reused, so
44 you can't rely on them for stable access to devices. For example,
45 it's relatively common for devices to re-enumerate while they are
46 still connected (perhaps someone jostled their power supply, hub,
47 or USB cable), so a device might be 002/027 when you first connect
48 it and 002/048 sometime later.
50 These files can be read as binary data. The binary data consists
51 of first the device descriptor, then the descriptors for each
52 configuration of the device. That information is also shown in
53 text form by the /proc/bus/usb/devices file, described later.
55 These files may also be used to write user-level drivers for the USB
56 devices. You would open the /proc/bus/usb/BBB/DDD file read/write,
57 read its descriptors to make sure it's the device you expect, and then
58 bind to an interface (or perhaps several) using an ioctl call. You
59 would issue more ioctls to the device to communicate to it using
60 control, bulk, or other kinds of USB transfers. The IOCTLs are
61 listed in the <linux/usbdevice_fs.h> file, and at this writing the
62 source code (linux/drivers/usb/core/devio.c) is the primary reference
63 for how to access devices through those files.
65 Note that since by default these BBB/DDD files are writable only by
66 root, only root can write such user mode drivers. You can selectively
67 grant read/write permissions to other users by using "chmod". Also,
68 usbfs mount options such as "devmode=0666" may be helpful.
72 THE /proc/bus/usb/devices FILE:
73 -------------------------------
74 In /proc/bus/usb/devices, each device's output has multiple
75 lines of ASCII output.
76 I made it ASCII instead of binary on purpose, so that someone
77 can obtain some useful data from it without the use of an
78 auxiliary program. However, with an auxiliary program, the numbers
79 in the first 4 columns of each "T:" line (topology info:
80 Lev, Prnt, Port, Cnt) can be used to build a USB topology diagram.
82 Each line is tagged with a one-character ID for that line:
85 B = Bandwidth (applies only to USB host controllers, which are
86 virtualized as root hubs)
87 D = Device descriptor info.
88 P = Product ID info. (from Device descriptor, but they won't fit
90 S = String descriptors.
91 C = Configuration descriptor info. (* = active configuration)
92 I = Interface descriptor info.
93 E = Endpoint descriptor info.
95 =======================================================================
97 /proc/bus/usb/devices output format:
100 d = decimal number (may have leading spaces or 0's)
101 x = hexadecimal number (may have leading spaces or 0's)
107 T: Bus=dd Lev=dd Prnt=dd Port=dd Cnt=dd Dev#=ddd Spd=ddd MxCh=dd
108 | | | | | | | | |__MaxChildren
109 | | | | | | | |__Device Speed in Mbps
110 | | | | | | |__DeviceNumber
111 | | | | | |__Count of devices at this level
112 | | | | |__Connector/Port on Parent for this device
113 | | | |__Parent DeviceNumber
114 | | |__Level in topology for this bus
119 1.5 Mbit/s for low speed USB
120 12 Mbit/s for full speed USB
121 480 Mbit/s for high speed USB (added for USB 2.0)
125 B: Alloc=ddd/ddd us (xx%), #Int=ddd, #Iso=ddd
126 | | | |__Number of isochronous requests
127 | | |__Number of interrupt requests
128 | |__Total Bandwidth allocated to this bus
129 |__Bandwidth info tag
131 Bandwidth allocation is an approximation of how much of one frame
132 (millisecond) is in use. It reflects only periodic transfers, which
133 are the only transfers that reserve bandwidth. Control and bulk
134 transfers use all other bandwidth, including reserved bandwidth that
135 is not used for transfers (such as for short packets).
137 The percentage is how much of the "reserved" bandwidth is scheduled by
138 those transfers. For a low or full speed bus (loosely, "USB 1.1"),
139 90% of the bus bandwidth is reserved. For a high speed bus (loosely,
140 "USB 2.0") 80% is reserved.
143 Device descriptor info & Product ID info:
145 D: Ver=x.xx Cls=xx(s) Sub=xx Prot=xx MxPS=dd #Cfgs=dd
146 P: Vendor=xxxx ProdID=xxxx Rev=xx.xx
149 D: Ver=x.xx Cls=xx(sssss) Sub=xx Prot=xx MxPS=dd #Cfgs=dd
150 | | | | | | |__NumberConfigurations
151 | | | | | |__MaxPacketSize of Default Endpoint
152 | | | | |__DeviceProtocol
153 | | | |__DeviceSubClass
155 | |__Device USB version
156 |__Device info tag #1
159 P: Vendor=xxxx ProdID=xxxx Rev=xx.xx
160 | | | |__Product revision number
161 | | |__Product ID code
163 |__Device info tag #2
166 String descriptor info:
169 | |__Manufacturer of this device as read from the device.
170 | For USB host controller drivers (virtual root hubs) this may
171 | be omitted, or (for newer drivers) will identify the kernel
172 | version and the driver which provides this hub emulation.
176 | |__Product description of this device as read from the device.
177 | For older USB host controller drivers (virtual root hubs) this
178 | indicates the driver; for newer ones, it's a product (and vendor)
179 | description that often comes from the kernel's PCI ID database.
183 | |__Serial Number of this device as read from the device.
184 | For USB host controller drivers (virtual root hubs) this is
185 | some unique ID, normally a bus ID (address or slot name) that
186 | can't be shared with any other device.
191 Configuration descriptor info:
193 C:* #Ifs=dd Cfg#=dd Atr=xx MPwr=dddmA
194 | | | | | |__MaxPower in mA
195 | | | | |__Attributes
196 | | | |__ConfiguratioNumber
197 | | |__NumberOfInterfaces
198 | |__ "*" indicates the active configuration (others are " ")
201 USB devices may have multiple configurations, each of which act
202 rather differently. For example, a bus-powered configuration
203 might be much less capable than one that is self-powered. Only
204 one device configuration can be active at a time; most devices
205 have only one configuration.
207 Each configuration consists of one or more interfaces. Each
208 interface serves a distinct "function", which is typically bound
209 to a different USB device driver. One common example is a USB
210 speaker with an audio interface for playback, and a HID interface
211 for use with software volume control.
214 Interface descriptor info (can be multiple per Config):
216 I:* If#=dd Alt=dd #EPs=dd Cls=xx(sssss) Sub=xx Prot=xx Driver=ssss
217 | | | | | | | | |__Driver name
218 | | | | | | | | or "(none)"
219 | | | | | | | |__InterfaceProtocol
220 | | | | | | |__InterfaceSubClass
221 | | | | | |__InterfaceClass
222 | | | | |__NumberOfEndpoints
223 | | | |__AlternateSettingNumber
224 | | |__InterfaceNumber
225 | |__ "*" indicates the active altsetting (others are " ")
226 |__Interface info tag
228 A given interface may have one or more "alternate" settings.
229 For example, default settings may not use more than a small
230 amount of periodic bandwidth. To use significant fractions
231 of bus bandwidth, drivers must select a non-default altsetting.
233 Only one setting for an interface may be active at a time, and
234 only one driver may bind to an interface at a time. Most devices
235 have only one alternate setting per interface.
238 Endpoint descriptor info (can be multiple per Interface):
240 E: Ad=xx(s) Atr=xx(ssss) MxPS=dddd Ivl=dddss
241 | | | | |__Interval (max) between transfers
242 | | | |__EndpointMaxPacketSize
243 | | |__Attributes(EndpointType)
244 | |__EndpointAddress(I=In,O=Out)
247 The interval is nonzero for all periodic (interrupt or isochronous)
248 endpoints. For high speed endpoints the transfer interval may be
249 measured in microseconds rather than milliseconds.
251 For high speed periodic endpoints, the "MaxPacketSize" reflects
252 the per-microframe data transfer size. For "high bandwidth"
253 endpoints, that can reflect two or three packets (for up to
254 3KBytes every 125 usec) per endpoint.
256 With the Linux-USB stack, periodic bandwidth reservations use the
257 transfer intervals and sizes provided by URBs, which can be less
258 than those found in endpoint descriptor.
261 =======================================================================
264 If a user or script is interested only in Topology info, for
265 example, use something like "grep ^T: /proc/bus/usb/devices"
266 for only the Topology lines. A command like
267 "grep -i ^[tdp]: /proc/bus/usb/devices" can be used to list
268 only the lines that begin with the characters in square brackets,
269 where the valid characters are TDPCIE. With a slightly more able
270 script, it can display any selected lines (for example, only T, D,
271 and P lines) and change their output format. (The "procusb"
272 Perl script is the beginning of this idea. It will list only
273 selected lines [selected from TBDPSCIE] or "All" lines from
274 /proc/bus/usb/devices.)
276 The Topology lines can be used to generate a graphic/pictorial
277 of the USB devices on a system's root hub. (See more below
280 The Interface lines can be used to determine what driver is
281 being used for each device, and which altsetting it activated.
283 The Configuration lines could be used to list maximum power
284 (in milliamps) that a system's USB devices are using.
285 For example, "grep ^C: /proc/bus/usb/devices".
288 Here's an example, from a system which has a UHCI root hub,
289 an external hub connected to the root hub, and a mouse and
290 a serial converter connected to the external hub.
292 T: Bus=00 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=12 MxCh= 2
293 B: Alloc= 28/900 us ( 3%), #Int= 2, #Iso= 0
294 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
295 P: Vendor=0000 ProdID=0000 Rev= 0.00
296 S: Product=USB UHCI Root Hub
298 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=40 MxPwr= 0mA
299 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
300 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 8 Ivl=255ms
302 T: Bus=00 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 4
303 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
304 P: Vendor=0451 ProdID=1446 Rev= 1.00
305 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=100mA
306 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
307 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 1 Ivl=255ms
309 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 3 Spd=1.5 MxCh= 0
310 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
311 P: Vendor=04b4 ProdID=0001 Rev= 0.00
312 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=100mA
313 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=03(HID ) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=mouse
314 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 3 Ivl= 10ms
316 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=02 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
317 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
318 P: Vendor=0565 ProdID=0001 Rev= 1.08
319 S: Manufacturer=Peracom Networks, Inc.
320 S: Product=Peracom USB to Serial Converter
321 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=a0 MxPwr=100mA
322 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=serial
323 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl= 16ms
324 E: Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 16 Ivl= 16ms
325 E: Ad=82(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 8 Ivl= 8ms
328 Selecting only the "T:" and "I:" lines from this (for example, by using
329 "procusb ti"), we have:
331 T: Bus=00 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=12 MxCh= 2
332 T: Bus=00 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 4
333 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
334 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 3 Spd=1.5 MxCh= 0
335 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=03(HID ) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=mouse
336 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=02 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
337 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=serial
340 Physically this looks like (or could be converted to):
343 | PC/root_hub (12)| Dev# = 1
344 +------------------+ (nn) is Mbps.
345 Level 0 | CN.0 | CN.1 | [CN = connector/port #]
349 +-----------------------+
350 Level 1 | Dev#2: 4-port hub (12)|
351 +-----------------------+
352 |CN.0 |CN.1 |CN.2 |CN.3 |
353 +-----------------------+
354 \ \____________________
357 +--------------------+ +--------------------+
358 Level 2 | Dev# 3: mouse (1.5)| | Dev# 4: serial (12)|
359 +--------------------+ +--------------------+
363 Or, in a more tree-like structure (ports [Connectors] without
364 connections could be omitted):
366 PC: Dev# 1, root hub, 2 ports, 12 Mbps
367 |_ CN.0: Dev# 2, hub, 4 ports, 12 Mbps
368 |_ CN.0: Dev #3, mouse, 1.5 Mbps
370 |_ CN.2: Dev #4, serial, 12 Mbps