Re: [PATCH] support for Cobalt Networks (x86 only) systems (forrealthis

[Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@mandrakesoft.com>]

Bogdan Costescu wrote:
> No way! If I implement a HA application which depends on link status, I
> want the info to be accurate, I don't want to know that 30 seconds ago I
> had good link.

To tangent a little bit, and add netdev to the CC...

The loss and regain of link status should be proactively signalled to
userspace using netlink or something similar.  Currently we have
netif_carrier_{on,off,ok} but it is only passively checked. 
netif_carrier_{on,off} should probably schedule_task() to fire off a
netlink message...

For your HA application specifically, right now, I would suggest making
sure your net driver calls netif_carrier_xxx correctly, then checking
for IFF_RUNNING interface flag.  IFF_RUNNING will disappear if the
interface is up, but there is no carrier [as according to
netif_carrier_ok].

-- 
Jeff Garzik      | Disbelief, that's why you fail.
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