Re: [PATCH 1/8] pcmcia: Add an id to ide-cs.c

[Russell King <rmk+pcmcia@arm.linux.org.uk>]

On Mon, Nov 20, 2006 at 12:43:33PM -0500, Dominik Brodowski wrote:
> As the matching by func_id is fuzzy and gives false positives, this is a
> multiple-step process:
> 
> a) the kernel checks all built-in and previously loaded modules for
>    prod_id and manf_id matches
> 
> b) userspace (udev/hotplug + modprobe) loads appropriate modules (including
>    those which are only matched by func_id
> 
> c) during the module initialization (e.g. modprobe hasn't returned yet) the
>    kernel checks the modules based on prod_id and manf_id matches
> 
> d) after all these modprobe calls return, userspace writes "1" into
>    /sys/$devpath/allow_func_id_match. Then, the kernel re-checks all
>    built-in and previously loaded modules for func_id "fuzzy" matches.
> 
> It is self-evident that steps b)-d) only work once userspace is ready. As
> PCMCIA drivers should be able to work even before that, manf_id and prod_id
> table entries do make sense even if func_id matching works.

However, it doesn't scale.  You're going to be forever adding entry
after entry after entry to drivers.  It's a never-ending job.

Of course, it's really up to you whether you want this task. 8)

-- 
Russell King
 Linux kernel    2.6 ARM Linux   - http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/
 maintainer of:  2.6 Serial core