Re: [RFC V2] b43: A patch for control of the radio LED using rfkill

[Michael Buesch <mb@bu3sch.de>]

On Thursday 18 September 2008 18:49:01 Larry Finger wrote:
> Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:
> > 
> > The problem is in the "should".
> > 
> > Maybe something else than b43 (like firmware) changed the radio software
> > rfkill bit, and it does not match what mac80211 and userland requested
> > anymore.
> > 
> > What you need to pass to rfkill_force_state() is what the radio is currently
> > doing.  So, the state you need to send to rfkill_force_state has to be based
> > on the real state of the hardware's "soft switch bit".
> 
> The hardware does not have such a bit. Once it is initialized and
> mac80211 sends it a packet, it will try to send it. That is true even
> if the hardware switch is off. It just will not succeed.

Right, b43 does have two "bits". One read-only bit that tells the hardware
block state. This state can only be changed by physically pressing rfkill
button. The other "bit" is a read/write "bit" to turn off the radio in software.
If _either_ one bit is blocking the radio, it will be physically blocked.

-- 
Greetings Michael.