Christoph Hellwig wrote: >On Wed, Mar 08, 2006 at 01:34:31PM +0800, Zhu Yi wrote: > > >>From: James Ketrenos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 03:22:28 +0000 (+0800) >> >>[PATCH 15/16] ipw2200: switch to the new ipw2200-fw-3.0 image format >> >>This patch modifies the driver to support the ipw2200-fw-3.0 image format. >> >>The 3.0 fw image does not add any new capabilities, but as a result of >>image format changes, it should fix two problems experienced by users: >> >>1) Race conditions with the request_firmware interface and udev/hotplug >>are improved as only a single request_firmware call is now required to >>load the firmware and microcode (vs. 3 separate calls previously) >> >>2) The monitor mode firmware (sniffer) is now packaged with the correct >>boot image so it can now function without frequent restarts. >> >>Note: Once you apply this patch, you will also need to upgrade your >>firmware image to the 3.0 version available from: >> >> http://ipw2200.sf.net/firmware.php >> >> > >NACK. Requiring people to have different firmware for different kernels >is completely unacceptable. > The in-tree driver has a 1:1 mapping to firmware version numbering. You currently can't do what you state is unacceptable. If we provided a v2.5 firmware image, you would have to upgrade your firmware if we patched the driver to load that image.
>Please add support for both firmware formats. > This patch removes the 1:1 mapping to version number changes, allowing future firmware versions to be used without change to the driver (provided the interface to the firmware does not change) In other words, if we provide a firmware image v2.5, you won't be able to use it without changing the driver. And if you change the driver, you will have to upgrade the firmware. With this patch applied, we can release 3.1, 3.2, 3.3... and you don't have to change the driver. James - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe netdev" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
