I have a laptop (running Slackware 10, kernel 2.4.26) which has a trackpoint nub and a USB mouse that can be plugged into it. Right now, if I want the USB mouse to work in X, I have to plug it in before X starts up, when the laptop boots. My ultimate goal is to allow me to use the USB mouse even if it is plugged in after X has started up.

In linux 2.6, all mouse devices are combined such that their inputs are all piped into one device node. This way, if I plug in the USB mouse late, it still will work in X. Is there any way I can set up a node that takes the outputs of two or more other nodes as it's own output. Or, is there another way I can get the USB mouse to work if it is plugged in after X starts?