i am trying to figure out a way of pluging in either a ps2 mouse or a usb
mouse and not have to change the "Device" option in the XF86Config-4 from
/dev/misc/psaux to /dev/input/mice. the protocol has the auto option so
there must be a way for me to not have to reconfigure everytime i want to
change the type of mouse i use?

I am using devfsd so this should help matters. after all the /dev/usbmouse
is a sym-link to /dev/input/mice so surely i should be able to do the same
sort of thing for ps2?

so for ps2:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/misc/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

and for USB:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

You can do it, but you must have both mice in your XF86Config-4 file. Your XF86Config seems different from mine in RedHat, but it looks like what you have to do for YOUR file is change "CorePointer" to "AlwaysCore" for the USB entry. Keep *BOTH* entries in your file.

Good luck!
MagicTom

yeah i figured it out in the end. Using this method, you can have both mice plugged in and both of them work.

in service layout:

InputDevice "PS2 mouse" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "USB mouse" "AlwaysCore"

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Imps/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "PS2 mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Imps/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/misc/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection