diff --git a/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt b/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt
index 09e031c..f0690bb 100644
--- a/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt
+++ b/Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt
@@ -468,3 +468,27 @@
 	cpufreq core and contained inside cpufreq.c. Other dependent
 	drivers should not use it in order to safely avoid lockdep issues.
 Who:	Venkatesh Pallipadi <venkatesh.pallipadi@intel.com>
+
+----------------------------
+
+What:	sound-slot/service-* module aliases and related clutters in
+	sound/sound_core.c
+When:	August 2010
+Why:	OSS sound_core grabs all legacy minors (0-255) of SOUND_MAJOR
+	(14) and requests modules using custom sound-slot/service-*
+	module aliases.  The only benefit of doing this is allowing
+	use of custom module aliases which might as well be considered
+	a bug at this point.  This preemptive claiming prevents
+	alternative OSS implementations.
+
+	Till the feature is removed, the kernel will be requesting
+	both sound-slot/service-* and the standard char-major-* module
+	aliases and allow turning off the pre-claiming selectively via
+	CONFIG_SOUND_OSS_CORE_PRECLAIM and soundcore.preclaim_oss
+	kernel parameter.
+
+	After the transition phase is complete, both the custom module
+	aliases and switches to disable it will go away.  This removal
+	will also allow making ALSA OSS emulation independent of
+	sound_core.  The dependency will be broken then too.
+Who:	Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org>
diff --git a/fs/char_dev.c b/fs/char_dev.c
index a173551..2f18c1e 100644
--- a/fs/char_dev.c
+++ b/fs/char_dev.c
@@ -237,8 +237,10 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * register_chrdev() - Register a major number for character devices.
+ * __register_chrdev() - create and register a cdev occupying a range of minors
  * @major: major device number or 0 for dynamic allocation
+ * @baseminor: first of the requested range of minor numbers
+ * @count: the number of minor numbers required
  * @name: name of this range of devices
  * @fops: file operations associated with this devices
  *
@@ -254,19 +256,17 @@
  * /dev. It only helps to keep track of the different owners of devices. If
  * your module name has only one type of devices it's ok to use e.g. the name
  * of the module here.
- *
- * This function registers a range of 256 minor numbers. The first minor number
- * is 0.
  */
-int register_chrdev(unsigned int major, const char *name,
-		    const struct file_operations *fops)
+int __register_chrdev(unsigned int major, unsigned int baseminor,
+		      unsigned int count, const char *name,
+		      const struct file_operations *fops)
 {
 	struct char_device_struct *cd;
 	struct cdev *cdev;
 	char *s;
 	int err = -ENOMEM;
 
-	cd = __register_chrdev_region(major, 0, 256, name);
+	cd = __register_chrdev_region(major, baseminor, count, name);
 	if (IS_ERR(cd))
 		return PTR_ERR(cd);
 	
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@
 	for (s = strchr(kobject_name(&cdev->kobj),'/'); s; s = strchr(s, '/'))
 		*s = '!';
 		
-	err = cdev_add(cdev, MKDEV(cd->major, 0), 256);
+	err = cdev_add(cdev, MKDEV(cd->major, baseminor), count);
 	if (err)
 		goto out;
 
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
 out:
 	kobject_put(&cdev->kobj);
 out2:
-	kfree(__unregister_chrdev_region(cd->major, 0, 256));
+	kfree(__unregister_chrdev_region(cd->major, baseminor, count));
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -316,10 +316,23 @@
 	}
 }
 
-void unregister_chrdev(unsigned int major, const char *name)
+/**
+ * __unregister_chrdev - unregister and destroy a cdev
+ * @major: major device number
+ * @baseminor: first of the range of minor numbers
+ * @count: the number of minor numbers this cdev is occupying
+ * @name: name of this range of devices
+ *
+ * Unregister and destroy the cdev occupying the region described by
+ * @major, @baseminor and @count.  This function undoes what
+ * __register_chrdev() did.
+ */
+void __unregister_chrdev(unsigned int major, unsigned int baseminor,
+			 unsigned int count, const char *name)
 {
 	struct char_device_struct *cd;
-	cd = __unregister_chrdev_region(major, 0, 256);
+
+	cd = __unregister_chrdev_region(major, baseminor, count);
 	if (cd && cd->cdev)
 		cdev_del(cd->cdev);
 	kfree(cd);
@@ -568,6 +581,6 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cdev_del);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cdev_add);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cdev_index);
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(register_chrdev);
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(unregister_chrdev);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(__register_chrdev);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(__unregister_chrdev);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(directly_mappable_cdev_bdi);
diff --git a/include/linux/fs.h b/include/linux/fs.h
index 73e9b64..3972ffb 100644
--- a/include/linux/fs.h
+++ b/include/linux/fs.h
@@ -1998,12 +1998,25 @@
 #define CHRDEV_MAJOR_HASH_SIZE	255
 extern int alloc_chrdev_region(dev_t *, unsigned, unsigned, const char *);
 extern int register_chrdev_region(dev_t, unsigned, const char *);
-extern int register_chrdev(unsigned int, const char *,
-			   const struct file_operations *);
-extern void unregister_chrdev(unsigned int, const char *);
+extern int __register_chrdev(unsigned int major, unsigned int baseminor,
+			     unsigned int count, const char *name,
+			     const struct file_operations *fops);
+extern void __unregister_chrdev(unsigned int major, unsigned int baseminor,
+				unsigned int count, const char *name);
 extern void unregister_chrdev_region(dev_t, unsigned);
 extern void chrdev_show(struct seq_file *,off_t);
 
+static inline int register_chrdev(unsigned int major, const char *name,
+				  const struct file_operations *fops)
+{
+	return __register_chrdev(major, 0, 256, name, fops);
+}
+
+static inline void unregister_chrdev(unsigned int major, const char *name)
+{
+	__unregister_chrdev(major, 0, 256, name);
+}
+
 /* fs/block_dev.c */
 #define BDEVNAME_SIZE	32	/* Largest string for a blockdev identifier */
 #define BDEVT_SIZE	10	/* Largest string for MAJ:MIN for blkdev */
diff --git a/sound/Kconfig b/sound/Kconfig
index 1eceb85..439e15c 100644
--- a/sound/Kconfig
+++ b/sound/Kconfig
@@ -32,6 +32,34 @@
 	bool
 	default n
 
+config SOUND_OSS_CORE_PRECLAIM
+	bool "Preclaim OSS device numbers"
+	depends on SOUND_OSS_CORE
+	default y
+	help
+	  With this option enabled, the kernel will claim all OSS device
+	  numbers if any OSS support (native or emulation) is enabled
+	  whether the respective module is loaded or not and try to load the
+	  appropriate module using sound-slot/service-* and char-major-*
+	  module aliases when one of the device numbers is opened.  With
+	  this option disabled, kernel will only claim actually in-use
+	  device numbers and opening a missing device will generate only the
+	  standard char-major-* aliases.
+
+	  The only visible difference is use of additional module aliases
+	  and whether OSS sound devices appear multiple times in
+	  /proc/devices.  sound-slot/service-* module aliases are scheduled
+	  to be removed (ie. PRECLAIM won't be available) and this option is
+	  to make the transition easier.  This option can be overridden
+	  during boot using the kernel parameter soundcore.preclaim_oss.
+
+	  Disabling this allows alternative OSS implementations.
+
+	  Please read Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt for
+	  details.
+
+	  If unusre, say Y.
+
 source "sound/oss/dmasound/Kconfig"
 
 if !M68K
diff --git a/sound/sound_core.c b/sound/sound_core.c
index a41f8b1..bb4b88e 100644
--- a/sound/sound_core.c
+++ b/sound/sound_core.c
@@ -128,6 +128,46 @@
 #endif
 
 /*
+ * By default, OSS sound_core claims full legacy minor range (0-255)
+ * of SOUND_MAJOR to trap open attempts to any sound minor and
+ * requests modules using custom sound-slot/service-* module aliases.
+ * The only benefit of doing this is allowing use of custom module
+ * aliases instead of the standard char-major-* ones.  This behavior
+ * prevents alternative OSS implementation and is scheduled to be
+ * removed.
+ *
+ * CONFIG_SOUND_OSS_CORE_PRECLAIM and soundcore.preclaim_oss kernel
+ * parameter are added to allow distros and developers to try and
+ * switch to alternative implementations without needing to rebuild
+ * the kernel in the meantime.  If preclaim_oss is non-zero, the
+ * kernel will behave the same as before.  All SOUND_MAJOR minors are
+ * preclaimed and the custom module aliases along with standard chrdev
+ * ones are emitted if a missing device is opened.  If preclaim_oss is
+ * zero, sound_core only grabs what's actually in use and for missing
+ * devices only the standard chrdev aliases are requested.
+ *
+ * All these clutters are scheduled to be removed along with
+ * sound-slot/service-* module aliases.  Please take a look at
+ * feature-removal-schedule.txt for details.
+ */
+#ifdef CONFIG_SOUND_OSS_CORE_PRECLAIM
+static int preclaim_oss = 1;
+#else
+static int preclaim_oss = 0;
+#endif
+
+module_param(preclaim_oss, int, 0444);
+
+static int soundcore_open(struct inode *, struct file *);
+
+static const struct file_operations soundcore_fops =
+{
+	/* We must have an owner or the module locking fails */
+	.owner	= THIS_MODULE,
+	.open	= soundcore_open,
+};
+
+/*
  *	Low level list operator. Scan the ordered list, find a hole and
  *	join into it. Called with the lock asserted
  */
@@ -219,8 +259,9 @@
 
 	if (!s)
 		return -ENOMEM;
-		
+
 	spin_lock(&sound_loader_lock);
+retry:
 	r = __sound_insert_unit(s, list, fops, index, low, top);
 	spin_unlock(&sound_loader_lock);
 	
@@ -231,11 +272,31 @@
 	else
 		sprintf(s->name, "sound/%s%d", name, r / SOUND_STEP);
 
+	if (!preclaim_oss) {
+		/*
+		 * Something else might have grabbed the minor.  If
+		 * first free slot is requested, rescan with @low set
+		 * to the next unit; otherwise, -EBUSY.
+		 */
+		r = __register_chrdev(SOUND_MAJOR, s->unit_minor, 1, s->name,
+				      &soundcore_fops);
+		if (r < 0) {
+			spin_lock(&sound_loader_lock);
+			__sound_remove_unit(list, s->unit_minor);
+			if (index < 0) {
+				low = s->unit_minor + SOUND_STEP;
+				goto retry;
+			}
+			spin_unlock(&sound_loader_lock);
+			return -EBUSY;
+		}
+	}
+
 	device_create(sound_class, dev, MKDEV(SOUND_MAJOR, s->unit_minor),
 		      NULL, s->name+6);
-	return r;
+	return s->unit_minor;
 
- fail:
+fail:
 	kfree(s);
 	return r;
 }
@@ -254,6 +315,9 @@
 	p = __sound_remove_unit(list, unit);
 	spin_unlock(&sound_loader_lock);
 	if (p) {
+		if (!preclaim_oss)
+			__unregister_chrdev(SOUND_MAJOR, p->unit_minor, 1,
+					    p->name);
 		device_destroy(sound_class, MKDEV(SOUND_MAJOR, p->unit_minor));
 		kfree(p);
 	}
@@ -491,19 +555,6 @@
 
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(unregister_sound_dsp);
 
-/*
- *	Now our file operations
- */
-
-static int soundcore_open(struct inode *, struct file *);
-
-static const struct file_operations soundcore_fops=
-{
-	/* We must have an owner or the module locking fails */
-	.owner	= THIS_MODULE,
-	.open	= soundcore_open,
-};
-
 static struct sound_unit *__look_for_unit(int chain, int unit)
 {
 	struct sound_unit *s;
@@ -539,8 +590,9 @@
 	s = __look_for_unit(chain, unit);
 	if (s)
 		new_fops = fops_get(s->unit_fops);
-	if (!new_fops) {
+	if (preclaim_oss && !new_fops) {
 		spin_unlock(&sound_loader_lock);
+
 		/*
 		 *  Please, don't change this order or code.
 		 *  For ALSA slot means soundcard and OSS emulation code
@@ -550,6 +602,17 @@
 		 */
 		request_module("sound-slot-%i", unit>>4);
 		request_module("sound-service-%i-%i", unit>>4, chain);
+
+		/*
+		 * sound-slot/service-* module aliases are scheduled
+		 * for removal in favor of the standard char-major-*
+		 * module aliases.  For the time being, generate both
+		 * the legacy and standard module aliases to ease
+		 * transition.
+		 */
+		if (request_module("char-major-%d-%d", SOUND_MAJOR, unit) > 0)
+			request_module("char-major-%d", SOUND_MAJOR);
+
 		spin_lock(&sound_loader_lock);
 		s = __look_for_unit(chain, unit);
 		if (s)
@@ -593,7 +656,8 @@
 
 static int __init init_oss_soundcore(void)
 {
-	if (register_chrdev(SOUND_MAJOR, "sound", &soundcore_fops)==-1) {
+	if (preclaim_oss &&
+	    register_chrdev(SOUND_MAJOR, "sound", &soundcore_fops) == -1) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "soundcore: sound device already in use.\n");
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}