diff --git a/sys/amd64/amd64/autoconf.c b/sys/amd64/amd64/autoconf.c
index 1aeef1c1bdc4..6c544401da78 100644
--- a/sys/amd64/amd64/autoconf.c
+++ b/sys/amd64/amd64/autoconf.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	from: @(#)autoconf.c	7.1 (Berkeley) 5/9/91
- *	$Id: autoconf.c,v 1.92 1998/03/17 00:28:02 msmith Exp $
+ *	$Id: autoconf.c,v 1.93 1998/04/19 23:31:33 julian Exp $
  */
 
 /*
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
  * devices are determined (from possibilities mentioned in ioconf.c),
  * and the drivers are initialized.
  */
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include "opt_bootp.h"
 #include "opt_ffs.h"
 #include "opt_cd9660.h"
diff --git a/sys/conf/options b/sys/conf/options
index 996f1b5f77fe..f26290b3d29e 100644
--- a/sys/conf/options
+++ b/sys/conf/options
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#	$Id: options,v 1.69 1998/03/21 11:33:49 peter Exp $
+#	$Id: options,v 1.70 1998/03/28 11:49:16 dufault Exp $
 #
 #        On the handling of kernel options   
 # 
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ DDB
 DDB_UNATTENDED	opt_ddb.h
 GDB_REMOTE_CHAT	opt_ddb.h
 DEVFS
+SLICE		opt_devfs.h
 DEVFS_ROOT	opt_devfs.h
 FAILSAFE
 HW_WDOG
diff --git a/sys/fs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c b/sys/fs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c
index c4a4a57d0c5d..09f271206d79 100644
--- a/sys/fs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c
+++ b/sys/fs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	@(#)cd9660_vfsops.c	8.18 (Berkeley) 5/22/95
- * $Id: cd9660_vfsops.c,v 1.35 1998/03/08 09:56:41 julian Exp $
+ * $Id: cd9660_vfsops.c,v 1.36 1998/04/19 23:31:48 julian Exp $
  */
 
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/systm.h>
 #include <sys/namei.h>
diff --git a/sys/i386/i386/autoconf.c b/sys/i386/i386/autoconf.c
index 1aeef1c1bdc4..6c544401da78 100644
--- a/sys/i386/i386/autoconf.c
+++ b/sys/i386/i386/autoconf.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	from: @(#)autoconf.c	7.1 (Berkeley) 5/9/91
- *	$Id: autoconf.c,v 1.92 1998/03/17 00:28:02 msmith Exp $
+ *	$Id: autoconf.c,v 1.93 1998/04/19 23:31:33 julian Exp $
  */
 
 /*
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
  * devices are determined (from possibilities mentioned in ioconf.c),
  * and the drivers are initialized.
  */
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include "opt_bootp.h"
 #include "opt_ffs.h"
 #include "opt_cd9660.h"
diff --git a/sys/isofs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c b/sys/isofs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c
index c4a4a57d0c5d..09f271206d79 100644
--- a/sys/isofs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c
+++ b/sys/isofs/cd9660/cd9660_vfsops.c
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	@(#)cd9660_vfsops.c	8.18 (Berkeley) 5/22/95
- * $Id: cd9660_vfsops.c,v 1.35 1998/03/08 09:56:41 julian Exp $
+ * $Id: cd9660_vfsops.c,v 1.36 1998/04/19 23:31:48 julian Exp $
  */
 
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/systm.h>
 #include <sys/namei.h>
diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_conf.c b/sys/kern/vfs_conf.c
index ffe86ce46266..01f4800bcf47 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_conf.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_conf.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	@(#)vfs_conf.c	8.8 (Berkeley) 3/31/94
- * $Id: vfs_conf.c,v 1.22 1998/03/11 00:10:31 msmith Exp $
+ * $Id: vfs_conf.c,v 1.23 1998/04/19 23:31:57 julian Exp $
  */
 
 /*
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
  *		as an aid to conversion for kernel multithreading
  *		on SMP reentrancy
  */
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include "opt_bootp.h"
 
 #include <sys/param.h>		/* dev_t (types.h)*/
diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_mount.c b/sys/kern/vfs_mount.c
index ffe86ce46266..01f4800bcf47 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_mount.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_mount.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	@(#)vfs_conf.c	8.8 (Berkeley) 3/31/94
- * $Id: vfs_conf.c,v 1.22 1998/03/11 00:10:31 msmith Exp $
+ * $Id: vfs_conf.c,v 1.23 1998/04/19 23:31:57 julian Exp $
  */
 
 /*
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
  *		as an aid to conversion for kernel multithreading
  *		on SMP reentrancy
  */
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include "opt_bootp.h"
 
 #include <sys/param.h>		/* dev_t (types.h)*/
diff --git a/sys/miscfs/devfs/devfs_tree.c b/sys/miscfs/devfs/devfs_tree.c
index 6d03fa6192ad..2e301e6991aa 100644
--- a/sys/miscfs/devfs/devfs_tree.c
+++ b/sys/miscfs/devfs/devfs_tree.c
@@ -24,14 +24,18 @@
  * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  * 
- *	$Id: devfs_tree.c,v 1.51 1998/04/17 22:36:53 des Exp $
+ *	$Id: devfs_tree.c,v 1.52 1998/04/19 23:32:09 julian Exp $
  */
 
 
-#define SPLIT_DEVS 1
-/*#define SPLIT_DEVS 1*/
+/* SPLIT_DEVS means each devfs uses a different vnode for the same device */
+/* Otherwise the same device always ends up at the same vnode even if  */
+/* reached througgh a different devfs instance. The practical difference */
+/* is that with the same vnode, chmods and chowns show up on all instances of */
+/* a device. (etc) */
 
-#include "opt_devfs.h"
+#define SPLIT_DEVS 1 /* maybe make this an option */
+/*#define SPLIT_DEVS 1*/
 
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/systm.h>
diff --git a/sys/sys/devfsext.h b/sys/sys/devfsext.h
index 47842e06a983..100fedb2e6b0 100644
--- a/sys/sys/devfsext.h
+++ b/sys/sys/devfsext.h
@@ -1,11 +1,34 @@
-/* usual BSD style copyright here */
-/* Written by Julian Elischer (julian@dialix.oz.au)*/
 /*
- * $Id: devfsext.h,v 1.16 1997/09/16 14:23:35 bde Exp $
+ * Copyright 1997,1998 Julian Elischer.  All rights reserved.
+ * julian@freebsd.org
+ * 
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *  1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *  2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ *     this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ *     and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ * 
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS
+ * OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+ * SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+ * CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ * 
+/*
+ * $Id: devfsext.h,v 1.17 1998/04/19 23:32:40 julian Exp $
  */
 
-#ifndef _SYS_DEVFSECT_H_
-#define	_SYS_DEVFSECT_H_
+#ifndef _SYS_DEVFSEXT_H_
+#define	_SYS_DEVFSEXT_H_
 
 /*
  * Make a device at a path, and get a cookie for it in return.
@@ -58,4 +81,4 @@ dev_t devfs_vntodev __P((struct vnode *vn)); /* extract dev_t from devfs vn */
 #define	GID_BIN		7
 #define	GID_DIALER	68
 
-#endif /* !_SYS_DEVFSECT_H_ */
+#endif /* !_SYS_DEVFSEXT_H_ */
diff --git a/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_vfsops.c b/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_vfsops.c
index c07d84535bef..a16fdba592ec 100644
--- a/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_vfsops.c
+++ b/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_vfsops.c
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
  *	@(#)ffs_vfsops.c	8.31 (Berkeley) 5/20/95
- * $Id: ffs_vfsops.c,v 1.78 1998/03/30 09:56:00 phk Exp $
+ * $Id: ffs_vfsops.c,v 1.79 1998/04/19 23:32:49 julian Exp $
  */
 
+#include "opt_devfs.h" /* for SLICE */
 #include "opt_quota.h"
 
 #include <sys/param.h>