linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] MODULE_FIRMWARE for binary firmware(s)

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Date:	Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:42:56 -0700 (PDT)
From:	David Lang <dlang@...italinsight.com>
To:	Olaf Hering <olaf@...fle.de>
cc:	Michael Buesch <mb@...sch.de>, Greg KH <greg@...ah.com>,
	Oleg Verych <olecom@...wer.upol.cz>,
	James Bottomley <James.Bottomley@...eleye.com>,
	Sven Luther <sven.luther@...adoo.fr>,
	debian-kernel@...ts.debian.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH] MODULE_FIRMWARE for binary firmware(s)

On Tue, 29 Aug 2006, Olaf Hering wrote:

> On Tue, Aug 29, Michael Buesch wrote:
>
>> On Tuesday 29 August 2006 20:32, Greg KH wrote:
>>> On Tue, Aug 29, 2006 at 08:46:45AM -0700, David Lang wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 28 Aug 2006, Greg KH wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I think the current way we handle firmware works quite well, especially
>>>>> given the wide range of different devices that it works for (everything
>>>>> from BIOS upgrades to different wireless driver stages).
>>>>
>>>> the current system works for many people yes, but not everyone.
>>>>
>>>> I'm still waiting to find a way to get the iw2200 working without having to
>>>> use modules.
>>>
>>> Sounds like a bug you need to pester the iw2200 developers about then.
>>> I don't think it has much to do with the firmware subsystem though :)
>>
>> Well, yes and no.
>> The ipw needs the firmware on insmod time (in contrast to bcm43xx
>> for example, which needs it on ifconfig up time).
>> So ipw needs to call request_firmware at insmod time. In case of
>> built-in, that is when the initcall happens. No userland is available
>> and request_firmware can not call the userspace helpers to upload
>> the firmware to sysfs.
>
> I dont use nor do I have access ipw hardware, but:
> If it is an initcall, the initramfs should be usable at that time.
> A creative CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE= will help, add the firmware and a
> small helper that does the cat(1).
>

you are assuming that

1. modules are enabled and ipw2200 is compiled as a module

2. initrd or initramfs are in use

besides, several kernel versions ago this used to work. the current requirement 
is a regression as far as the user is concerned.

David Lang
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