linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 2.6.24] block2mtd: removing a device and typo fixes

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Date:	Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:33:38 +0100
From:	Arnd Bergmann <arnd@...db.de>
To:	Jörn Engel <joern@...fs.org>
Cc:	Stephane Chazelas <stephane.chazelas@...rson.com>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-mtd@...ts.infradead.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2.6.24] block2mtd: removing a device and typo fixes

On Tuesday 19 February 2008, you wrote:
> > What about having a /dev/block2mtd (with owner/permissions that
> > could allow non-root users to use it), with 2 ioctls:
> > 
> > - one to "link" a block dev to a mtd that would take as
> >   parameter a fd to an open block dev (again allowing for
> >   flexible permissions) and would return the number of the
> >   allocated mtd and success/failure in errno. Upon sucess it
> >   would increase the refcnt of block2mtd.
> > 
> > - and one to "release" the link. That would fail if the mtd is
> >   in use and decrease block2mtd's refcnt upon success.
> > 
> > A bit like the loop devices (or /dev/ptmx) actually. What do you
> > think?
> 
> Could work.  Passing the fd raises several alarm bells.  Arnd, any
> comments from you?

Given that loop works in this way, I certainly see that as doable,
but then I'd vote for using the existing ioctl semantics of
LOOP_SET_FD and LOOP_DEL_FD on the mtdchar device, which already
comes with an ioctl interface for mtd devices.
I'd probably also allow the LOOP_{GET,SET}_STATUS{,64} commands,
so you can actually use the existing losetup tool.
That way, we wouldn't have to introduce a new API, just extend
an existing one to work on more things.

	Arnd <><
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