Re: firmware separation filesystem (fwfs)

Manuel Estrada Sainz (ranty@debian.org)
Sun, 20 Apr 2003 21:26:16 +0200


On Sat, Apr 19, 2003 at 10:52:44PM +0100, Alan Cox wrote:
> On Sad, 2003-04-19 at 21:41, Manuel Estrada Sainz wrote:
> > > fwfs is a broken idea because it leaves the data in kernel space. On
> > > a giant IBM monster maybe nobody cares about a few hundred K of cached
> > > firmware in the kernel, but the rest of us happen to run real world
> > > computers.
> >
> > Many drivers currently include this same data in kernel space, in in
> > headers, what I am trying to do is make it easy for them to support
> > fwfs (or whatever it becomes in the end).
>
> So what is the value in changing them to this, then changing them again
> to put the firmware in userspace ? Surely you'd be better off writing
> a generally usable request_firmware() hotplug interface ?

Sorry, I modify plans in my head with the feedback, but am probably
not telling my new plans very well as I go along.

My current plan is actualy making a request_firmware() hotplug
interface. What I am still not sure about is if it should be build
around some evolution of fwfs, sysfs binary support or something even
simpler. In any case, I'll try to make the same interface, so even if
one is taken and later found to be wrong, drivers won't have to be
rewritten.

I plan to implement at least two alternatives, the one around fwfs and
the one around sysfs, so we can compare the merits and limitations of
each looking at working code. If there is interest in an even simpler
alternative or the other two are found to be wrong I'll do it.

Specially if you (Alan) don't like the sysfs alternative either, I'll
try to make the third alternative based on your feedback.

I am really more interested in finding a good way to handle firmware
than in pushing any actual implementation in special.

Have a nice day

Manuel

PS: I'll be away most of the week, I'll respond to any new feedback
and get back to coding when I come back.

-- 
--- Manuel Estrada Sainz <ranty@debian.org>
                         <ranty@bigfoot.com>
			 <ranty@users.sourceforge.net>
------------------------ <manuel.estrada@hispalinux.es> -------------------
Let us have the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to
change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.
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