This patch converts tg3 to use firmware loading, and builds loadable firmware.
Immediate advantages: * separation of binary firmware and GPL driver into different files makes Debian happy * Firmware for irrelevant models never goes into memory (a significant savings; currently three sets are stored while usually only one is needed) * Firmware and driver can be updated independently (In the long run it may be possible to avoid storing the firmware in memory for any significant time, but that will have to wait on locking improvements in the tg3 driver.) I need some advice on what changes will be desired to get some version of this into the official trees. * Fallback to builtin firmware if loadable firmware is unavailable? I can do this reasonably quickly, but it seems wasteful. * Config option to choose builtin firmware/loadable firmware? I can do this fairly easily. * Automatic installation of loadable firmware? This appears to require serious kbuild work which I haven't been able to hack yet. Any suggestions? * Anything else? Signed-off-by: Nathanael Nerode ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) -- A thousand reasons. http://www.thousandreasons.org/ Lies, theft, war, kidnapping, torture, rape, murder... Get me out of this fascist nightmare!
tg3.diff.gz
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