Re: [PATCH]MBM: add Ericsson mbm driver

[Greg KH]

On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 09:12:56AM +0100, Carl Nordbeck wrote:
> > From: Greg KH [mailto:greg@xxxxxxxxx] 
> > On Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 11:48:19PM +0100, Carl Nordbeck wrote:
> > >  Hi Greg.
> > > The reason for this is that the name usbX is very confusing for a 
> > > MobileBroadband device.
> > > This type of devices needs a control-plane to start working, ie AT 
> > > command channel to initiate the data user-plane.
> > > The nameing mbX reflects the will from several parties(GSM 
> > > Association,
> > > Ericsson...) to use MobileBroadband.
> > > MBN is short for MobileBroadbandNetworkdevice,
> > 
> > Do any other types of Linux network devices currently use 
> > this name?  Do any userspace tools expect this naming scheme 
> > and handle it differently than other network devices already? 
> >  Is this all docmented somewhere?
> > 
> 
> There is no other devices using this name yet. Here is a link to
> GSMA with full list of companies supporting MobileBroadband:
> http://www.gsmworld.com/our-work/programmes-and-initiatives/mobile-broad
> band/mobile_broadband-industry.htm
> 
> We currently needs some kind of flag to userspace applications,
> i.e NetworkMananger or Conman, to indicate that the device do need a
> seperate control-plane to operate.

Yes, that would help out, and sounds necessary.  It also means that
creating a new network device name "type" would not be needed at all,
right?

> It can be possible to make a totaly seperate module that do not reuse
> usbnet?

Why would you want to do this?  Just for a new flag you wish to export?
Just add it to the existing module.

What do the network driver developers think about the new device name?
Is there a reason you have not Cc:ed them on this patch and brought this
name change to their attention?

thanks,

greg k-h
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