No, you don't need hotplug at all.
Just add the modules you need/use to /etc/rc.d/rc.modules and removepkg hotplug

You CAN run udev 090+ on slackware 10.0. I am actually running it RIGHT now, with no ill effects. Just the benefits of finally ditching the horrible hotplug entirely.

However, you _MUST_ have at least kernel 2.6.15 (16 probably best) or your machine will not be able to run the new versions of udev. Just compile a new kernel then install the new udev.

Well, I'll not be able to install 10.2 until I can download the second disk, which won't be until saturday when I've arranged to have access to high speed internet.

Thank you (plural) for your help thus far, I'll be back to report sucess or failure.

Sorry to jump in like this, but my boot time is fairly long too. My system sits at hotplug at startup.

All the modules from ls modules, are the ones I would put in rc.modules? And what is the syntax for that particular file? Right now I load some modules at startup via rc.local/modprobe module.

what kernel version did you use? Udev requires 2.6.x kernel, probably 2.6.16.x will be a good start

I use 2.6.13 from the /testing directory. I should upgrade to a later one.

Oh, and I use Udev 0.70 from -current.

hsimah-- Back when I was using hotplug, I cut down my boot time by switching off the executable bit of /etc/rc.d/*hotplug* and saying "y" instead of "m" for the kernel drivers I knew I needed to use. I'm sure there are advantages to using modules, but since I needed very few devices all the time, it worked fine. 'Course, I may've screwed something up and just not noticed..

you will gain more if you use kernel 2.6.16.x and above and use the latest udev (0.71 if you want to follow Pat or 0.90 if you want to use Piter Punk's packages)

Yes all of those (if you use them all, but for simplicity add all of them)
The syntax is easy: /sbin/modprobe modulename (you can even delete the whole file, and create a new one like mine: )

pdw@skogen:~$ cat /etc/rc.d/rc.modules
#!/bin/sh
# Instert NVIDIA module
/sbin/modprobe nvidia NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1

(other crap is in the kernel, don't be suprised i just have 1 module)

Personally, I always have hotplug enabled - I have far too much strange/foreign/borrowed hardware connected to my machine to faff about compiling my kernel each time. I wanna plug something in and have it work if it can. Therefore, I love modules and don't care that they are taking 150Mb on my machine (which is a pittance, to be honest).

Additionally, my computer is mostly on all the time so the boot-time is irrelevant for myself but I can understand the frustation of a slow boot time - I work in schools where computers take FIVE MINUTES to get to a login screen and a further five to get a functional desktop up.

I don't see disabling hotplug as an option because of the time it saves me from having to find out which module does what each time I plug something in. I'd gladly sacrifice a minute or so boot-up time for that. More important is to find out why hotplug/udev is taking so long rather than how to eliminate it entirely. Chances are that upgrading will introduce updated blacklists for those modules that take ages to probe when the hardware isn't present etc. and your boot time will decrease dramatically.

However, it does sound like hotplug/udev is the least of his worries at the moment. :-)

You asked for links on udev ... do you know these:

http://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/util...tplug/udev-FAQ
http://www.reactivated.net/writing_udev_rules.html

HTH