RE: [PATCH] compat-drivers: update ethernet driver alx in crap dir

[Huang, Xiong]

Hi Luis

    I'm refining the code, I try my best to make it upstream ASAP. Thanks !

-Xiong

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mcgrof@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:mcgrof@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Luis R.
> Rodriguez
> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 6:25
> To: Huang, Xiong
> Cc: mcgrof@xxxxxxxxxx; backports@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; nic-devel; Ren, Cloud;
> Greg Kroah-Hartman; linux-kernel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; netdev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
> linux-wireless; qca_vkondrat
> Subject: Re: [PATCH] compat-drivers: update ethernet driver alx in crap dir
> 
> On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 6:34 PM,  <xiong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > From: xiong <xiong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> > 1. support new device id (0x10A0/0x10A1).
> > 2. add DEBUG_FS interface for diag/swoi functions.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Ren Cloud <cjren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Signed-off-by: xiong <xiong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> Xiong,
> 
>  -- Vladimir, just a heads up -- this applies to you as well for the 802.11ad
> wil6210 driver
>  -- Greg, some review on your preference on this would be appreciated
> 
> The original alx crap patch was added into compat-wireless on the linux-3.5.y
> branch. Its been two kernel releases and alx is not yet upstream and users can
> only get alx via compat-drivers (technically compat-wireless as that was pre
> v3.7). v3.7 would be the *third* release in which this would happen... This is
> unfair to users and consumers of the Linux kernel and derails expectations and
> our arrangements for Linux kernel development. I realize that the goal was to
> get alx upstream ASAP but regardless of what the reason is, its not yet
> upstream. If you cannot work on alx on a timely manner to get upstream then
> please submit the driver to the staging area of the Linux kernel that Greg
> maintains so that other developers who may be able to help can submit
> patches to help you. Under staging your driver should be accepted so long as it
> compiles.
> 
> I will update the documentation for crap/ patches for compat-drivers to make
> it clear now that crap/ patches can be used for adding components / pieces of
> code not yet ready for upstream but as far as full new drivers are concerned
> you only get one kernel release cycle for it to linger on crap/ under compat-
> drivers, if you haven't addressed upstreaming yet then it should go to
> drivers/staging/. That is crap/ should only be used as a shortcut because users
> exist that can use the driver but you *do* have a team properly resourced to
> address upstreaming properly in a timely manner.
> 
> Linus should soon release v3.7-rc1 and new drivers are allowed to be merged
> during the RC cycles, as such my recommendation is instead of getting users to
> consume alx only through compat-drivers you now submit alx into staging to
> Greg in hopes that we can get it into v3.7-rcX some time, and at that time we
> can remove the crap/ patch from compat-drivers.
> 
> Users should be able to consume new drivers through kernel.org and compat-
> drivers should only provide the framework for backporting and also
> categorizing quick fixes. It should not be used for ongoing updates for new
> drivers that users need.
> 
> We must draw the line with crap/ patches somewhere.
> 
> I'll then take this patch for now but do expect you to get alx into either staging
> or proper upstream for the v3.7-rcX. I welcome feedback from other folks on
> the proposed arrangement for crap/ patches for compat-drivers.
> 
> https://backports.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Documentation/compat-
> drivers/additional-patches#crap_patches
> 
>   Luis
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