Re: [2.6 patch] make UNIX a bool

[Adrian Bunk <bunk@stusta.de>]

On Thu, Mar 02, 2006 at 11:44:57PM -0500, James C. Georgas wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-02-03 at 22:44 +0100, Adrian Bunk wrote:
> 
> > > > 
> > > > We do not have to export symbols we don't want to export to modules but 
> > > > needed by CONFIG_UNIX.
> > > 
> > > Sorry, I must just be dense, or something.
> > > 
> > > Is not the only difference between a modular driver and a built in
> > > driver supposed to be the initialization and cleanup functions?
> > > 
> > > I don't see why you would have to expose any additional symbols, over
> > > and above the existing required symbols, to load your module.
> > 
> > Every kernel symbol a module uses must be explicitely exported with 
> > EXPORT_SYMBOL.
> 
> Yes, I understand that I need to export symbols to define the interface
> to my driver. whether its a module or compiled in. This is how other
> systems interact with my driver, right?

EXPORT_SYMBOL is only required for modules.

> > CONFIG_UNIX uses symbols that are neither used by any other in-kernel 
> > modules nor should be exported.
> 
> Are you saying that AF_UNIX has to export symbols for its own private
> functions in order to call them? I guess I don't understand this. Why
> not just call them. They're in scope within the driver code, aren't
> they?

No, this is about functions defined in other parts of the kernel.

> James C. Georgas <jgeorgas@rogers.com>

cu
Adrian

-- 

       "Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out
        of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
       "Only a promise," Lao Er said.
                                       Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed