pccardctl

pccardctl command [ options ]

create
    Create device files and configuration files for a new PC Card.

config
    Run the configuration script for a PC Card.

eject
    Eject a PC Card from the slot.

insert
    Simulate inserting a card.

suspend
    Suspend the device

resume
    Resume the device

reset
    Reset a PC Card in the slot.

info
    Display information about the PC Card(s) in the slot(s).

ident
    Identify a card.

cardmgr
    Start, stop or restart the cardmgr daemon.

scheme
    Activate, create or delete a scheme.

voltage
    Set the voltage for the PC Card slot.

-c card
    Specify the card number to act on.

-d
    Turn on debugging output.

-f file
    Specify a configuration file.

-h
    Show help

-V
    Display the version.

The pccardctl command is a utility for interacting with PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) or PC Cards under Linux. It allows users to query, configure, and control various aspects of PC Card functionality. This includes tasks such as querying card status, inserting or ejecting cards, setting voltage levels, and resetting devices. While the PCMCIA standard is largely outdated, pccardctl remains relevant for systems that still utilize PC Card slots or CompactFlash (CF) cards in legacy configurations. The tool acts as a bridge between user-space applications and the PCMCIA subsystem in the Linux kernel, enabling access to hardware-specific features and management capabilities. It is typically used by system administrators or device drivers to manage PC Card devices. The command is part of the pcmciautils package. The use of hotplug event is encouraged and supported by pccardctl, this can be used to execute commands upon insertion or removal of PC cards.

The pccardctl command relies on the PCMCIA subsystem in the Linux kernel. Ensure that the relevant kernel modules are loaded and configured properly for the PC Card hardware.
PCMCIA is a legacy technology and might not be fully supported on modern systems.

The primary configuration file for the PCMCIA subsystem is typically located at `/etc/pcmcia/config.opts`. This file contains settings related to card detection, driver loading, and other system-wide parameters. Individual PC Card configurations may be stored in files within the `/etc/pcmcia/` directory.

The pccardctl command can be configured to execute scripts automatically upon card insertion or removal using hotplug event. This feature allows for dynamic configuration and management of PC Cards without manual intervention.

The pccardctl command was developed as part of the Linux PCMCIA utilities package to provide a user-space interface for managing PC Card devices. It has been a standard tool on Linux systems that support PCMCIA slots, enabling tasks like card insertion/ejection, voltage configuration, and device resets. With the decline of PCMCIA in favor of newer technologies like USB, its usage has decreased, but it remains essential for older hardware and embedded systems.

cardmgr(8), pcmcia(5)