netdev - Re: [PATCH 14/16] RealView: Use the in-kernel smc911x.c driver on RealView

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Date:	Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:32:50 +0100
From:	Steve.Glendinning@...c.com
To:	Russell King - ARM Linux <linux@....linux.org.uk>
Cc:	Bill Gatliff <bgat@...lgatliff.com>,
	Catalin Marinas <catalin.marinas@....com>,
	Guennadi Liakhovetski <g.liakhovetski@....de>,
	Ian.Saturley@...c.com, linux-arm-kernel@...ts.arm.linux.org.uk,
	netdev@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH 14/16] RealView: Use the in-kernel smc911x.c driver on	RealView

Russell King - ARM Linux <linux@....linux.org.uk> wrote on 21/10/2008 
19:46:53:

> On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 11:26:42AM +0100, Steve.Glendinning@...c.com 
wrote:
> > Almost all the feedback I've had has been positive, but I've had a few
> > "can't you just fix the in-tree driver?" responses.  The trouble is 
it's
> > not a *small* piece of work!
> 
> Which is reasonable given your summary, since...
> 
> > smsc911x
> > - uses functions instead of macros, making it more readable
> > - uses napi (and manages significantly higher throughput because of 
it)
> > - uses phylib
> > - passes checkpatch.pl
> > - has workarounds for older LAN911x variants
> > 
> > smc911x
> > - is already in-tree (not really technical, but still important)
> > - has support for pxa dma*
> > - has dynamic bus width config
>
> .. we want to avoid having two drivers for the same device, but not
> supporting these features would be seen as a regression.

Exactly, we already have two drivers.  Only one is currently in-tree, but
both have users.  The question is where we go from here?

I believe it's much easier to bring smsc911x up to feature parity with
smc911x than vice-versa.  The dynamic bus configuration is simple enough
to add, and Bill Gatliff has offered to help out with PXA DMA support.
I'd like us to reach a consensus first though, so we all know the plan
moving forward!

Regards,
--
Steve Glendinning
SMSC GmbH
m: +44 777 933 9124
e: steve.glendinning@...c.com




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