Make /dev a symbolic link to /var/dev. Under the /var mount point
directory in the root file system, construct a rudimentary "dev"
directory containing only the devices essential for booting and mounting
file systems. (Be sure that you have enough to come up in single-user
mode too.) Put the full "dev" driectory within the file system that
gets mounted on /var.
No, I don't particularly like this solution. Maintaining that
rudimentary "dev" directory would be a big headache for anyone not
involved in inventing it. The fact that it seldom changes just makes it
less likely that Joe Sysadmin would be aware of it when he does
something that would require a change. It is also unlikely that such
a directory would get included in routine backups.
-- Bob Nichols rnichols@interaccess.com