http://linuxbasics.org/tutorials/using/using_udev

Kernel 2.6 has begun the use of udev for handling devices for making those files in /dev that previous kernels just created permanently. udev creates these files as needed. Setting up udev so that when you plug in a palm and then have /dev/pilot as the assigned device is not difficult. I got the information on how to do this at http://webpages.charter.net/decibelshelp/LinuxHelp_UDEVPrimerMisc.html. I am using Debian Sarge with 2.6.8-2-386 kernel.

General procedure