Re: Merging libata PATA support into the base kernel

[Mark Lord <liml@rtr.ca>]

Alan Cox wrote:
> Jeff (rightly) thinks the plan should be discussed publically, so here
> is the plan
> 
> For 2.6.19 to move the libata drivers to drivers/ata
> Add a subset of the new PATA drivers living in -mm to the base kernel
> 
> Many of the new libata drivers are already more stable and functional
> than the drivers/ide ones. 
..
> At this point in time it is premature to discuss or plan the point at
> which the old IDE layer would go away. That discussion can start at the
> point where everyone is happy that the new libata based layer is
> providing better quality and coverage than the old one. Even then there
> would be no need to hurry.

As creator of the ancient IDE subsystem, I agree --> it is time to get
the next generation code upstream.

This will also allow time for things like "udev" to perhaps think about
an option to someday provide /dev/hd* symlinks for PATA devices when
libata is used instead of IDE (?).  That might be a possible migration
path in the far future.

Cheers!