linux-kernel - Re: [GIT *] Allow request_firmware() to be satisfied from in-kernel, use it in more drivers.

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Message-ID: <20080716080235.GB11485@boogie.lpds.sztaki.hu>
Date:	Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:02:35 +0200
From:	Gabor Gombas <gombasg@...aki.hu>
To:	Sven-Haegar Koch <haegar@...net.de>
Cc:	David Woodhouse <dwmw2@...radead.org>,
	Linux-Kernel-Mailinglist <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [GIT *] Allow request_firmware() to be satisfied from
	in-kernel,  use it in more drivers.

On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 02:55:32AM +0200, Sven-Haegar Koch wrote:

> Something from the non-development world:
> 
> At least the initramfs-tools (which contains mkinitrd) of Debian Etch do 
> not do this (the current testing/development version Lenny does) - no 
> firmware support in the initrd at all - and not needed for booting until 
> now.
> (It has /lib/firmware support after the initrd for the not-so-important
> stuff like usb/sound/video/wireless)
> 
> Yes, it may be nearly ancient by now, but for servers it contains all we 
> need, and most certainly would not want to use something that changes and 
> needs checking/hand-fixing every month - I expect this version to be still 
> in use a year from now, then just gradually being updated to the next 
> debian version.
> 
> Currently we use 2.6.24, and I expect to use some newer kernel to support 
> newer replacement hardware before all installs are upgraded. So having the 
> firmware-inside-module support would be a help for us when modules are 
> starting to be needed for disk or network access, keeping from the need to 
> try backporting huge initrd/make-kpkg changes.

You can easyly install initramfs-tools from lenny on an etch box. It
only depends on a newer klibc, so it won't disturb any other services.

Btw., the Debian-provided 2.6.25 kernel already lacks the firmware for
some popular modules (like bnx2). So if you're using Debian, you as a
sysadmin already have to handle the "firmware is in a separate package"
issue.

Gabor

-- 
     ---------------------------------------------------------
     MTA SZTAKI Computer and Automation Research Institute
                Hungarian Academy of Sciences
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