Re: firmware loading interface

From: Robert Hancock
Date: Sat Nov 14 2009 - 11:09:03 EST


On 11/13/2009 06:35 PM, Roland Dreier wrote:

> However our device will have flash to store the firmware in and, whilst
> it looks as though it would be possible for us to use request_firmware
> to provide occasional firmware upgrades from userspace, I can't find any
> reference as to whether this is an accepted method for doing so. Could
> someone please confirm for me whether or not it's a good idea to use
> request_firmware for this, or perhaps point me at another standard
> method for doing firmware updates from userspace?

I think request_firmware() is fine for this... you could have a look at
drivers/net/cxgb3 to see a device that writes new firmware to flash when
it detects a version mismatch between driver and device.

It depends on the consequences of a failed flash due to losing power, crash, etc - if it has the potential to brick the device then I don't think that should happen without the user triggering it explicitly..
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