usbdevs "self powered" is misleading

[Julian Stacey]

"self powered" is reported by 6.1-RELEASE usbdevs for my small external disc.
It seems a misnomer & should at most be "Can be self powered" ?
The disc housing has a socket to apply power, but was not plugged
in.  (I don't even have a power supply for it).  Disc was cabled
direct to laptop, not through a hub, & showed:
   Controller /dev/usb1:
   addr 1: full speed, self powered, config 1, UHCI root hub(0x0000),
	 Intel(0x0000), rev 1.00
    port 1 addr 2: full speed, self powered, config 1,
	 USB 2.0 Storage Device(0x5621), vendor 0x0402(0x0402), rev 1.03
When I added a USB-2 Hub (with hub power supply plugged in to 220V)"
    Controller /dev/usb1:
     addr 1: full speed, self powered, config 1, UHCI root hub(0x0000),
		Intel(0x0000), rev 1.00
      port 1 addr 2: full speed, self powered, config 1,
		USB2.0 Hub Cont(0x0058), NEC Corporation(0x0409), rev 1.00
       port 1 addr 5: full speed, self powered, config 1,
		USB 2.0 Storage Device(0x5621), vendor 0x0402(0x0402), rev 1.03
Sometimes "self powered" seems correct though, as for eg:
	- a GPS with battery inside.
	- a USB2-IDE + 3.5" IDE disc + external 220V supply
Comments ?

Julian
-- 
Julian Stacey.	Internet & Unix Consultant, Munich.	http://berklix.com
Mail in Ascii, HTML = spam.      Ihr Rauch = mein allergischer Kopfschmerz.