---
name: "isapnp"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/isapnp/4"
---

# isapnp(4)

introduction to ISA Plug-and-Play support

## NAME

**isapnp** – introduction to ISA Plug-and-Play support

## SYNOPSIS

**isapnp0 at isa?**

## DESCRIPTION

An **isapnp** bus can be configured for each supported ISA bus.

OpenBSD provides machine-independent bus support and drivers for ISA Plug-and-Play (isapnp) autoconfiguration of PnP-compatible devices on an ISA bus.

## SUPPORTED DEVICES

OpenBSD includes machine-independent ISAPNP drivers, sorted by function and driver name:

### Disk controllers

- [aic(4)](/aic/4.md)

  Adaptec AIC-6260 and AIC-6360 SCSI interface

- [wdc(4)](/wdc/4.md)

  WD100x compatible hard disk controller driver

### Serial and parallel interfaces

- [com(4)](/com/4.md)

  serial communications interface

### Network interfaces

- [an(4)](/an/4.md)

  Aironet 4500/4800 IEEE 802.11FH/b wireless interfaces

- [ef(4)](/ef/4.md)

  3Com Fast EtherLink ISA (3c515) 10/100 Ethernet device

- [ep(4)](/ep/4.md)

  3Com EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink III 10/100 Ethernet device

- [le(4)](/le/4.md)

  AMD LANCE Ethernet device

- [ne(4)](/ne/4.md)

  NE2000 and compatible 10/100 Ethernet device

- [we(4)](/we/4.md)

  Western Digital/SMC WD80x3, SMC Elite Ultra, and SMC EtherEZ Ethernet device

### Sound

- [ess(4)](/ess/4.md)

  ESS Technology AudioDrive family audio device

- [gus(4)](/gus/4.md)

  Gravis UltraSound/UltraSound MAX audio device

- [mpu(4)](/mpu/4.md)

  Roland/Yamaha MPU401 MIDI UART device

- [sb(4)](/sb/4.md)

  SoundBlaster family audio device

### Miscellaneous devices

- [joy(4)](/joy/4.md)

  games adapter

- [pcic(4)](/pcic/4.md)

  ISA PCMCIA controllers

## SEE ALSO

[intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [isa(4)](/isa/4.md)

## HISTORY

The **isapnp** driver appeared in NetBSD 1.3.

## CAVEATS

From time to time an **isapnp** device will be found which the kernel does not recognize. The kernel matches **isapnp** devices to device drivers based on identifiers which each device provides. For example, this device:

joy0 at isapnp0 "Creative SB16 PnP, CTL7001, PNPB02F, Game" port 0x200/8

This joystick calls itself by the two names “CTL7001” and “PNPB02F”. The latter is a standard name (which the kernel automatically recognizes), but “CTL7001” is a vendor-specific name which needs to be added to a table. Unfortunately, some devices advertise only their vendor-specific name; for instance:

"PnP Sound Chip, @P@1001, , " at isapnp0 port 0x200/8 not configured

Testing will show that this device is actually a joystick. To resolve the issue, the actual name “@P@1001” has to be entered into the database found in */sys/dev/isa/pnpdevs* and a new kernel must be built. Then the device will probe like this:

joy0 at isapnp0 "PnP Sound Chip, @P@1001, , " port 0x200/8