Re: [PATCH] toshiba_acpi: Add /dev/toshiba_acpi device

[Darren Hart <dvhart@infradead.org>]

On Thu, Jul 16, 2015 at 05:32:44PM -0600, Azael Avalos wrote:
> There were previous attempts to "merge" the toshiba SMM module to the
> toshiba_acpi one, they were trying to imitate what the old toshiba
> module does, however, some models (TOS1900 devices) come with a
> "crippled" implementation and do not provide all the "features" a
> "genuine" Toshiba BIOS does.
> 
> This patch adds a new device called toshiba_acpi, which aim is to
> enable userspace to access the SMM on Toshiba laptops via ACPI calls.
> 
> Creating a new convenience _IOWR command to access the SCI functions
> by opening/closing the SCI internally to avoid buggy BIOS, while at
> the same time providing backwards compatibility.
> 
> Older programs who wish to access the SMM on newer models can do it
> without much code change, as the toshiba.h header was modified to
> reflect these changes as well as adds all the toshiba_acpi paths
> and commands.

To clarify, the newer models didn't work at all previously, so this is not
changing the user:kernel interface, but rather enabling it on newer machines,
and programs wishing to take advantage of that can do so with minimal change.

Correct?

-- 
Darren Hart
Intel Open Source Technology Center