Re: [RFC] Separating out libata out of SCSI (finally)

[Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org>]

Jeff Garzik wrote:
> 1) Make SCSI block devices themselves an allocate-able resource (I think
> that's what you meant by "placed into it's own module so both sd and a
> ULD ata driver could use it"?)
> 
> 2) Ensure that any ata_disk ULD would support the same partition limits
> and ioctl set, enough to ensure binary compatibility.
> 
> Because that's the real need -- maintaining binary compatibility with
> SCSI block devices, so major/minor, ioctl supported set, partition
> limits, and other relevant details need to remain unchanged.
> 
> The underlying software we're of course free to change...

I'm taking this approach.  I think it's better than introducing a new
block device while keeping the old one as that causes numerous userland
problems including dup devices (if they're gonna exist side-by-side) and
eventual need for conversion && breakage of old userland on newer kernels.

Thanks.

-- 
tejun