---
name: "pcmem_cs"
section: "4"
platform: "linux"
package: "pcmcia-cs"
version: "2.9.6-3"
release: "Debian 1.3 (Bo)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pcmem_cs"
---

# pcmem\_cs(4)

PCMCIA memory card driver

## NAME

pcmem\_cs - PCMCIA memory card driver

## SYNOPSIS

**insmod pcmem\_cs.o** \[**pc\_debug=n**\] \[**mem\_speed=n**\] \[**word\_width=n**\]

## DESCRIPTION

**Pcmem\_cs** is the Card Services driver for generic PCMCIA memory cards.  It provides character-mode devices for accessing any card's attribute and common memory address spaces, analogous to */dev/mem*. The attribute memory device returns only the even-numbered bytes. **Pcmem\_cs** also provides a block-mode device for accessing common memory. **Pcmem\_cs** will allocate a free major device number when it is loaded.  The bitwise layout of minor device numbers is 'ddddddmm', where 'dddddd' is the device number, and 'mm' is the mode.  Currently, the only modes are 0 for common memory and 1 for attribute memory.  When **pcmem\_cs** is bound to a card, it will report its major and minor device numbers to [**cardmgr**(8)](/cardmgr/8.md).

The block device driver for a card's common memory can be used to create a filesystem on a card, and the device can be mounted in much the same way as a floppy disk.  You may need to explicitly specify the card's capacity when creating a filesystem.

Since any PCMCIA card can be accessed as a memory card, **pcmem\_cs** can be bound to any card regardless of function, and regardless of what other drivers might also be bound to that card.  For example, this driver can be bound to a card and then used to read out the contents of the card's attribute memory.

## PARAMETERS

- **pc\_debug=n**

  Selects the PCMCIA debugging level.  This parameter is only available if the module is compiled with debugging enabled.  A non-zero value enables debugging.

- **mem\_speed=n**

  Sets the access speed of the shared memory window, in nanoseconds. The default is 0 (i.e., no extra wait states).  Values of up to 1000 are legal.

- **word\_width=n**

  A flag indicating if the card should be configured for 8-bit (if 0) or 16-bit (if 1) transfers.  The default is 1 (16-bit).

## AUTHOR

David Hinds - dhinds@allegro.stanford.edu

## SEE ALSO

[cardmgr(8)](/cardmgr/8.md), [pcmcia(5)](/pcmcia/5.md).