RE: [PATCH] ASoC: Intel: Skylake: Add alternative topology binary name

["Rojewski, Cezary" <cezary.rojewski@intel.com>]

On 2020-11-08 6:00 PM, Greg KH wrote:
> On Sun, Nov 08, 2020 at 04:17:16PM +0000, Rojewski, Cezary wrote:
>> On 2020-11-04 12:58 PM, Greg KH wrote:
>>> On Wed, Nov 04, 2020 at 12:46:36PM +0100, Gorski, Mateusz wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> [ Upstream commit 1b290ef023b3eeb4f4688b582fecb773915ef937 ]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Add alternative topology binary file name based on used machine driver
>>>>>> and fallback to use this name after failed attempt to load topology file
>>>>>> with name based on NHLT.
>>>>>> This change addresses multiple issues with current mechanism, for
>>>>>> example - there are devices without NHLT table, and that currently
>>>>>> results in tplg_name being empty.
...

>>>>> What problems are people facing, and what kernel(s) are you asking for
>>>>> this to be ported to, and why can't people just use 5.8 or newer if they
>>>>> have this new hardware?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I forgot to add - I wanted this change to be merged to stable 5.4 kernel.
>>>> Please let me know if I should resend this patch with this information
>>>> included.
>>>>
>>>> As for the user issues - topology binary file name is currently created
>>>> according to information from NHLT. The problem is, that some laptops (for
>>>> example Dell XPS 13) do not have NHLT at all. This results in topology
>>>> binary name being empty (" ").
>>>> This patch adds alternative name based on loaded machine driver.
>>>>
>>>> It applies not only to new hardware, please note that the mentioned Dell XPS
>>>> 13 is based on Kabylake. This issue existed on upstream from the beginning
>>>> of Skylake driver and was only recently addressed.
>>>
>>> When was that laptop released and is this the only change that is needed
>>> in order for the 5.4.y kernel to work properly on it?
>>>
>>
>> Sorry for the late answer, Greg. To address your concerns and questions
>> let me elaborate:
>>
>> Indeed, this change is not the only one required to enable DMIC + HDA
>> configuration for customers. The following series is essential:
>>
>> [PATCH 0/7] ASoC: Intel: Skylake: Fix HDaudio and Dmic
>> https://lore.kernel.org/alsa-devel/20200305145314.32579-1-cezary.rojewski@intel.com/
> 
> Great, then they should just use a newer kernel version.  It's crazy to
> think that you can go back in time and get older kernels working for
> newer hardware :)

Skylake and Kabylake-based platforms are few years old already, that's
not exactly a "newer hardware". Icelake and such are and these are not
part of /skylake driver. Fact is, this should all be part of 4.19 or
earlier since DMIC + HDA configuration are available even there. And
receiving laptop with such kernel and no patches fails miserably ; (

Unfortunately, kernels 4.19 and below need many more changes than "just"
6 fixes as HDA-generic soundcard isn't available there. That, however,
can easily be called "a new feature" so stopping at 5.4 is a fair call.

Thanks,
Czarek