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.
10 In many modern systems the usbfs filsystem isn't used at all. Instead
11 USB device nodes are created under /dev/usb/ or someplace similar. The
12 "devices" file is available in debugfs, typically as
13 /sys/kernel/debug/usb/devices.
16 **NOTE**: If /proc/bus/usb appears empty, and a host controller
17 driver has been linked, then you need to mount the
18 filesystem. Issue the command (as root):
20 mount -t usbfs none /proc/bus/usb
22 An alternative and more permanent method would be to add
24 none /proc/bus/usb usbfs defaults 0 0
26 to /etc/fstab. This will mount usbfs at each reboot.
27 You can then issue `cat /proc/bus/usb/devices` to extract
28 USB device information, and user mode drivers can use usbfs
29 to interact with USB devices.
31 There are a number of mount options supported by usbfs.
32 Consult the source code (linux/drivers/usb/core/inode.c) for
33 information about those options.
35 **NOTE**: The filesystem has been renamed from "usbdevfs" to
36 "usbfs", to reduce confusion with "devfs". You may
37 still see references to the older "usbdevfs" name.
39 For more information on mounting the usbfs file system, see the
40 "USB Device Filesystem" section of the USB Guide. The latest copy
41 of the USB Guide can be found at http://www.linux-usb.org/
44 THE /proc/bus/usb/BBB/DDD FILES:
45 --------------------------------
46 Each connected USB device has one file. The BBB indicates the bus
47 number. The DDD indicates the device address on that bus. Both
48 of these numbers are assigned sequentially, and can be reused, so
49 you can't rely on them for stable access to devices. For example,
50 it's relatively common for devices to re-enumerate while they are
51 still connected (perhaps someone jostled their power supply, hub,
52 or USB cable), so a device might be 002/027 when you first connect
53 it and 002/048 sometime later.
55 These files can be read as binary data. The binary data consists
56 of first the device descriptor, then the descriptors for each
57 configuration of the device. Multi-byte fields in the device and
58 configuration descriptors, but not other descriptors, are converted
59 to host endianness by the kernel. This information is also shown
60 in text form by the /proc/bus/usb/devices file, described later.
62 These files may also be used to write user-level drivers for the USB
63 devices. You would open the /proc/bus/usb/BBB/DDD file read/write,
64 read its descriptors to make sure it's the device you expect, and then
65 bind to an interface (or perhaps several) using an ioctl call. You
66 would issue more ioctls to the device to communicate to it using
67 control, bulk, or other kinds of USB transfers. The IOCTLs are
68 listed in the <linux/usbdevice_fs.h> file, and at this writing the
69 source code (linux/drivers/usb/core/devio.c) is the primary reference
70 for how to access devices through those files.
72 Note that since by default these BBB/DDD files are writable only by
73 root, only root can write such user mode drivers. You can selectively
74 grant read/write permissions to other users by using "chmod". Also,
75 usbfs mount options such as "devmode=0666" may be helpful.
79 THE /proc/bus/usb/devices FILE:
80 -------------------------------
81 In /proc/bus/usb/devices, each device's output has multiple
82 lines of ASCII output.
83 I made it ASCII instead of binary on purpose, so that someone
84 can obtain some useful data from it without the use of an
85 auxiliary program. However, with an auxiliary program, the numbers
86 in the first 4 columns of each "T:" line (topology info:
87 Lev, Prnt, Port, Cnt) can be used to build a USB topology diagram.
89 Each line is tagged with a one-character ID for that line:
92 B = Bandwidth (applies only to USB host controllers, which are
93 virtualized as root hubs)
94 D = Device descriptor info.
95 P = Product ID info. (from Device descriptor, but they won't fit
97 S = String descriptors.
98 C = Configuration descriptor info. (* = active configuration)
99 I = Interface descriptor info.
100 E = Endpoint descriptor info.
102 =======================================================================
104 /proc/bus/usb/devices output format:
107 d = decimal number (may have leading spaces or 0's)
108 x = hexadecimal number (may have leading spaces or 0's)
114 T: Bus=dd Lev=dd Prnt=dd Port=dd Cnt=dd Dev#=ddd Spd=dddd MxCh=dd
115 | | | | | | | | |__MaxChildren
116 | | | | | | | |__Device Speed in Mbps
117 | | | | | | |__DeviceNumber
118 | | | | | |__Count of devices at this level
119 | | | | |__Connector/Port on Parent for this device
120 | | | |__Parent DeviceNumber
121 | | |__Level in topology for this bus
126 1.5 Mbit/s for low speed USB
127 12 Mbit/s for full speed USB
128 480 Mbit/s for high speed USB (added for USB 2.0);
129 also used for Wireless USB, which has no fixed speed
130 5000 Mbit/s for SuperSpeed USB (added for USB 3.0)
132 For reasons lost in the mists of time, the Port number is always
133 too low by 1. For example, a device plugged into port 4 will
134 show up with "Port=03".
137 B: Alloc=ddd/ddd us (xx%), #Int=ddd, #Iso=ddd
138 | | | |__Number of isochronous requests
139 | | |__Number of interrupt requests
140 | |__Total Bandwidth allocated to this bus
141 |__Bandwidth info tag
143 Bandwidth allocation is an approximation of how much of one frame
144 (millisecond) is in use. It reflects only periodic transfers, which
145 are the only transfers that reserve bandwidth. Control and bulk
146 transfers use all other bandwidth, including reserved bandwidth that
147 is not used for transfers (such as for short packets).
149 The percentage is how much of the "reserved" bandwidth is scheduled by
150 those transfers. For a low or full speed bus (loosely, "USB 1.1"),
151 90% of the bus bandwidth is reserved. For a high speed bus (loosely,
152 "USB 2.0") 80% is reserved.
155 Device descriptor info & Product ID info:
157 D: Ver=x.xx Cls=xx(s) Sub=xx Prot=xx MxPS=dd #Cfgs=dd
158 P: Vendor=xxxx ProdID=xxxx Rev=xx.xx
161 D: Ver=x.xx Cls=xx(sssss) Sub=xx Prot=xx MxPS=dd #Cfgs=dd
162 | | | | | | |__NumberConfigurations
163 | | | | | |__MaxPacketSize of Default Endpoint
164 | | | | |__DeviceProtocol
165 | | | |__DeviceSubClass
167 | |__Device USB version
168 |__Device info tag #1
171 P: Vendor=xxxx ProdID=xxxx Rev=xx.xx
172 | | | |__Product revision number
173 | | |__Product ID code
175 |__Device info tag #2
178 String descriptor info:
181 | |__Manufacturer of this device as read from the device.
182 | For USB host controller drivers (virtual root hubs) this may
183 | be omitted, or (for newer drivers) will identify the kernel
184 | version and the driver which provides this hub emulation.
188 | |__Product description of this device as read from the device.
189 | For older USB host controller drivers (virtual root hubs) this
190 | indicates the driver; for newer ones, it's a product (and vendor)
191 | description that often comes from the kernel's PCI ID database.
195 | |__Serial Number of this device as read from the device.
196 | For USB host controller drivers (virtual root hubs) this is
197 | some unique ID, normally a bus ID (address or slot name) that
198 | can't be shared with any other device.
203 Configuration descriptor info:
205 C:* #Ifs=dd Cfg#=dd Atr=xx MPwr=dddmA
206 | | | | | |__MaxPower in mA
207 | | | | |__Attributes
208 | | | |__ConfiguratioNumber
209 | | |__NumberOfInterfaces
210 | |__ "*" indicates the active configuration (others are " ")
213 USB devices may have multiple configurations, each of which act
214 rather differently. For example, a bus-powered configuration
215 might be much less capable than one that is self-powered. Only
216 one device configuration can be active at a time; most devices
217 have only one configuration.
219 Each configuration consists of one or more interfaces. Each
220 interface serves a distinct "function", which is typically bound
221 to a different USB device driver. One common example is a USB
222 speaker with an audio interface for playback, and a HID interface
223 for use with software volume control.
226 Interface descriptor info (can be multiple per Config):
228 I:* If#=dd Alt=dd #EPs=dd Cls=xx(sssss) Sub=xx Prot=xx Driver=ssss
229 | | | | | | | | |__Driver name
230 | | | | | | | | or "(none)"
231 | | | | | | | |__InterfaceProtocol
232 | | | | | | |__InterfaceSubClass
233 | | | | | |__InterfaceClass
234 | | | | |__NumberOfEndpoints
235 | | | |__AlternateSettingNumber
236 | | |__InterfaceNumber
237 | |__ "*" indicates the active altsetting (others are " ")
238 |__Interface info tag
240 A given interface may have one or more "alternate" settings.
241 For example, default settings may not use more than a small
242 amount of periodic bandwidth. To use significant fractions
243 of bus bandwidth, drivers must select a non-default altsetting.
245 Only one setting for an interface may be active at a time, and
246 only one driver may bind to an interface at a time. Most devices
247 have only one alternate setting per interface.
250 Endpoint descriptor info (can be multiple per Interface):
252 E: Ad=xx(s) Atr=xx(ssss) MxPS=dddd Ivl=dddss
253 | | | | |__Interval (max) between transfers
254 | | | |__EndpointMaxPacketSize
255 | | |__Attributes(EndpointType)
256 | |__EndpointAddress(I=In,O=Out)
259 The interval is nonzero for all periodic (interrupt or isochronous)
260 endpoints. For high speed endpoints the transfer interval may be
261 measured in microseconds rather than milliseconds.
263 For high speed periodic endpoints, the "MaxPacketSize" reflects
264 the per-microframe data transfer size. For "high bandwidth"
265 endpoints, that can reflect two or three packets (for up to
266 3KBytes every 125 usec) per endpoint.
268 With the Linux-USB stack, periodic bandwidth reservations use the
269 transfer intervals and sizes provided by URBs, which can be less
270 than those found in endpoint descriptor.
273 =======================================================================
276 If a user or script is interested only in Topology info, for
277 example, use something like "grep ^T: /proc/bus/usb/devices"
278 for only the Topology lines. A command like
279 "grep -i ^[tdp]: /proc/bus/usb/devices" can be used to list
280 only the lines that begin with the characters in square brackets,
281 where the valid characters are TDPCIE. With a slightly more able
282 script, it can display any selected lines (for example, only T, D,
283 and P lines) and change their output format. (The "procusb"
284 Perl script is the beginning of this idea. It will list only
285 selected lines [selected from TBDPSCIE] or "All" lines from
286 /proc/bus/usb/devices.)
288 The Topology lines can be used to generate a graphic/pictorial
289 of the USB devices on a system's root hub. (See more below
292 The Interface lines can be used to determine what driver is
293 being used for each device, and which altsetting it activated.
295 The Configuration lines could be used to list maximum power
296 (in milliamps) that a system's USB devices are using.
297 For example, "grep ^C: /proc/bus/usb/devices".
300 Here's an example, from a system which has a UHCI root hub,
301 an external hub connected to the root hub, and a mouse and
302 a serial converter connected to the external hub.
304 T: Bus=00 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=12 MxCh= 2
305 B: Alloc= 28/900 us ( 3%), #Int= 2, #Iso= 0
306 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
307 P: Vendor=0000 ProdID=0000 Rev= 0.00
308 S: Product=USB UHCI Root Hub
310 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=40 MxPwr= 0mA
311 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
312 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 8 Ivl=255ms
314 T: Bus=00 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 4
315 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
316 P: Vendor=0451 ProdID=1446 Rev= 1.00
317 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=100mA
318 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
319 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 1 Ivl=255ms
321 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 3 Spd=1.5 MxCh= 0
322 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
323 P: Vendor=04b4 ProdID=0001 Rev= 0.00
324 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=100mA
325 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=03(HID ) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=mouse
326 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 3 Ivl= 10ms
328 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=02 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
329 D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1
330 P: Vendor=0565 ProdID=0001 Rev= 1.08
331 S: Manufacturer=Peracom Networks, Inc.
332 S: Product=Peracom USB to Serial Converter
333 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=a0 MxPwr=100mA
334 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=serial
335 E: Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl= 16ms
336 E: Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 16 Ivl= 16ms
337 E: Ad=82(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 8 Ivl= 8ms
340 Selecting only the "T:" and "I:" lines from this (for example, by using
341 "procusb ti"), we have:
343 T: Bus=00 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=12 MxCh= 2
344 T: Bus=00 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 4
345 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
346 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 3 Spd=1.5 MxCh= 0
347 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=03(HID ) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=mouse
348 T: Bus=00 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=02 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
349 I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=serial
352 Physically this looks like (or could be converted to):
355 | PC/root_hub (12)| Dev# = 1
356 +------------------+ (nn) is Mbps.
357 Level 0 | CN.0 | CN.1 | [CN = connector/port #]
361 +-----------------------+
362 Level 1 | Dev#2: 4-port hub (12)|
363 +-----------------------+
364 |CN.0 |CN.1 |CN.2 |CN.3 |
365 +-----------------------+
366 \ \____________________
369 +--------------------+ +--------------------+
370 Level 2 | Dev# 3: mouse (1.5)| | Dev# 4: serial (12)|
371 +--------------------+ +--------------------+
375 Or, in a more tree-like structure (ports [Connectors] without
376 connections could be omitted):
378 PC: Dev# 1, root hub, 2 ports, 12 Mbps
379 |_ CN.0: Dev# 2, hub, 4 ports, 12 Mbps
380 |_ CN.0: Dev #3, mouse, 1.5 Mbps
382 |_ CN.2: Dev #4, serial, 12 Mbps