linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] SCSI: explain the hidden scsi_wait

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Date:	Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:21:26 +0000
From:	James Bottomley <James.Bottomley@...senPartnership.com>
To:	Stefan Richter <stefanr@...6.in-berlin.de>
Cc:	Matthew Wilcox <matthew@....cx>, Changli Gao <xiaosuo@...il.com>,
	Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	linux-scsi@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH] SCSI: explain the hidden scsi_wait_scan Kconfig
 variable

On Wed, 2009-06-17 at 12:07 +0200, Stefan Richter wrote:
> People keep sending patches to expose CONFIG_SCSI_WAIT_SCAN as a tunable
> item.  These patches aren't accepted upstream, so let's stop the ongoing
> irritation of people due to this obscure and strange installed module
> and its Kconfig option.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Stefan Richter <stefanr@...6.in-berlin.de>
> ---
>  drivers/scsi/Kconfig |   17 ++++++++++++++++-
>  1 file changed, 16 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
> 
> Index: b/drivers/scsi/Kconfig
> ===================================================================
> --- a/drivers/scsi/Kconfig
> +++ b/drivers/scsi/Kconfig
> @@ -259,10 +259,25 @@ config SCSI_SCAN_ASYNC
>  	  or async on the kernel's command line.
>  
>  config SCSI_WAIT_SCAN
> -	tristate
> +	tristate  # No prompt here, this is a hidden option.

Adding comments explaining this is good, I think.

>  	default m
>  	depends on SCSI
>  	depends on MODULES
> +	help
> +	  Wait until all the async scans are complete.  The idea is to use
> +	  it in initrd/ initramfs scripts.  You modprobe it after all the
> +	  modprobes of the root SCSI drivers and it will wait until they
> +	  have all finished scanning their buses before allowing the boot
> +	  to proceed.
> +
> +	  Of course this does not work if targets boot independently of and
> +	  in parallel with the initiator, and/ or with transports with non-
> +	  deterministic target discovery schemes, and/ or if a transport
> +	  driver does not support scsi_wait_scan.
> +
> +	  Still, this option is not exposed as a prompt because little is
> +	  to be gained by disabling it, whereas people who accidentally
> +	  switch it off may wonder why their mkinitrd gets into trouble.

But not a help text that can never be shown.  Turn this into a comment
and I'll apply the patch.

The reason is the fact that this could be construed as a detectable bug
(option with help that can never be displayed) and someone with too much
time on their hands someday might make a static checker for it.

James


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