> 
> > What you suggest though, does raise a tough call question. I really
> > am torn between taking the BSDI approach (requiring more userland work,
> > but that's okay) and getting instant functionality.
> 
> Perhaps a loadable kernel module could contain the strings, and the scsi
> driver can test for the presence of the module:  no module, minimalist hex
> version (not necessarily just a raw dump); if the module is present, call it
> and let it format the printout as it sees fit.  The module could even print
> a minimally interpreted version on the console and make the raw data available
> for a user-land application to write novels about.
> 

I second this approach.  This way, if you want the messages, you simply
load the LKM and off you go; otherwise you use the numeric.

-- 
Dave Burgess                   Network Engineer - Nebraska On-Ramp, Inc.
*bsd FAQ Maintainer / SysAdmin for the NetBSD system in my spare bedroom
"Just because something is stupid doesn't mean there isn't someone that 
doesn't want to do it...."