Re: [PATCH] ioctl SIOCGIFNETMASK: ip alias bug 2.4.9 and 2.2.19

[Wietse Venema]

David Weinehall:
> On Mon, Sep 10, 2001 at 08:26:03AM -0400, Wietse Venema wrote:
> > David Weinehall:
> > > Are you saying that Linux should implement compability with _new_
> > > features in FreeBSD 4.x, while at the same time frowning at the fact
> > > that Linux introduces a new API?! The mind boggles at the thought.
> > 
> > SIOCGIFNETMASK is not "new". It exists in systems as ancient as
> > SunOS 4.x, which pre dates FreeBSD 4.x by about 10 years. 
> > 
> > Evidence: RTFM the Postfix source code :-)
> > 
> > In other words, SIOCGIFNETMASK existed long before Linux could plug
> > into a network.

Other vendors with SIOCGIFNETMASK in 10-year old releases: DEC, HP, IBM.

> "[snip] old and the new stuff, please name precisely the objections
> against portability and compatibility with FreeBSD 4.x aliasing."
>                                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> This is what lead me to my conclusion. Care to clarify? If you simply
> meant SIOCGIFNETMASK, why not write that instead instead of involving
> FreeBSD 4.x?!

The poster was referring to systems that he has personal experience
with.  Not everyone is a dinosaur like I am.

	Wietse