netdev - Re: [PATCH v2] Re: WAN: new PPP code for generic HDLC

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Message-ID: <m3r6cv75xq.fsf@maximus.localdomain>
Date:	Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:12:17 +0200
From:	Krzysztof Halasa <khc@...waw.pl>
To:	David Miller <davem@...emloft.net>
Cc:	jeff@...zik.org, paulkf@...rogate.com, jchapman@...alix.com,
	alan@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk, akpm@...ux-foundation.org,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, netdev@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2] Re: WAN: new PPP code for generic HDLC

David Miller <davem@...emloft.net> writes:

> The core kernel code sets dev->priv to the alloc_netdev() allocated
> memory region.
>
> It doesn't do that just for fun.
>
> Any code which overrides that setting is asking for trouble.
> What if the code kernel code that set it, needed to use it
> during device release for some reason?

You are right, the point is Linux is a moving target, and I try to
write code as good as I can in given circumstances but never better.
I accept occasional breakage in obscure cases like syncppp+hdlc,
but I also need a way to fix it and/or remove the obscureness (or
whatever the right word is).

Historically we always have had two pointers:
- dev->priv
- first we had struct (net_)device *dev and by embedding it in larger
  structure we were able to have another private data area (even with
  Space.c)
- then netdev_alloc() and netdev_priv() came
- since 2.6.23 netdev_priv() returns dev->priv - one pointer is gone.

Anyway, I guess we should rather concentrate on what to do now with
the thing. Perhaps you have some idea?
-- 
Krzysztof Halasa
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