From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-path: Received: from mail-by2nam03on0079.outbound.protection.outlook.com ([104.47.42.79]:49664 "EHLO NAM03-BY2-obe.outbound.protection.outlook.com" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-FAIL) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1751644AbcKYKtN (ORCPT ); Fri, 25 Nov 2016 05:49:13 -0500 Subject: Re: [RFC] qtn: add FullMAC firmware for Quantenna QSR10G wifi device To: Kalle Valo References: <1478700000-11624-1-git-send-email-igor.mitsyanko.os@quantenna.com> <1478706966.18306.1.camel@sipsolutions.net> <2fcb5f28-808e-f296-7e91-e5185e7577c9@quantenna.com> <1478725543.21403.4.camel@sipsolutions.net> <1478864146.4129.4.camel@sipsolutions.net> <87d1hmnrqj.fsf@purkki.adurom.net> <87shqhf5rs.fsf@kamboji.qca.qualcomm.com> CC: Johannes Berg , , , , , , Igor Mitsyanko , Kamlesh Rath , Sergey Matyukevich , Avinash Patil , Ben Hutchings , Kyle McMartin From: IgorMitsyanko Message-ID: <4079db3d-ae29-28a3-9149-1d401ca38f06@quantenna.com> (sfid-20161125_114918_581387_D8206B74) Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:16:33 +0300 MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: <87shqhf5rs.fsf@kamboji.qca.qualcomm.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"; format=flowed Sender: linux-wireless-owner@vger.kernel.org List-ID: On 11/24/2016 02:59 PM, Kalle Valo wrote: > IgorMitsyanko writes: > >> On 11/23/2016 06:25 PM, Kalle Valo wrote: >>> IgorMitsyanko writes: >>> >>>> To clarify with you and Kalle, as persons involved with >>>> linux-wireless: is my understanding correct that submitting firmware >>>> into linux-fimware repository is a prerequisite to accepting new >>>> driver into linux-wireless? >>> In my opinion the most important is that the device is usable with an >>> upstream driver so that anyone can start using the driver (if they have >>> the hardware). >>> >>>> There is an option to start Quantenna device from internal flash >>>> memory, no external binary files involved. If we will introduce this >>>> functionality and remove code handling external firmware for now >>>> (until firmware problem resolved), would that allow driver to be >>>> reviewed/accepted? >>> Do all the publically available hardware contain the firmware in >>> internal flash (flashed in the factory)? Or is this something which must >>> be installed separately for each board's internal flash by the user? >> Each board must have flash installed on it, preflashed in the factory >> with uboot and firmware binary, otherwise board won't boot > Will the preflashed firmware binary will have all the normal > functionality needed by this driver? I mean that you can start an AP > interface etc. Yes, we tried to design system in a way that the same firmware will support working as a FullMAC device with cfg80211 framework, as well as working in a default mode of emulating ethernet card (when all wireless rated components are hidden inside device itself); it's just a problem of telling device which mode it should boot to. >> (won't boot without uboot, firmware itself is not mandatory). > Are you expecting that there are devices on the field which have uboot > preflashed but not the firmware? For the new QSR10G chipset, there are no such devices right now. I think it is possible for them to appear in the future: makes sense to have designs with smaller flash sizes, to save a few cents on each device, but hopefully by that time we will have firmware binary accepted in linux-firmare. > >> Booting from flash is default behavior on boards that are currently on >> the market, but for developemnt purpuses it's not very convenient and >> harder to upgrade. > Sure, I understand. > >>> BTW, the original mail with the firmware image didn't make it to the >>> list, I guess it was too big? It would be good if you could post the >>> license separately so that people can see it. >>> >> I resent the email without binary patch to linux-wireless. > Saw it now, thanks. >