[RFC] carl9170: new firmware for linux-firmware.git

[RFC] carl9170: new firmware for linux-firmware.git

[Christian Lamparter]

Hi Ben,

I'm currently updating the carl9170 firmware to the latest
version (1.9.9). I've already pushed out the sources and
updated the binaries over at our wiki (for the last time,
all future update will be via linux-firmware.git).

Now, the last item on my check off list is:
[ ]     new firmware for linux-firmware.git

Last time - when this topic came up - we had a short brainstorm
about how to handle updates in the future: 
<http://marc.info/?l=linux-wireless&m=136115736909708>

So, I've now prepared some options: 

1. Reorganize carl9170 by creating a new subdirectory "carl9170"
   and move everything in it.
   * A carl9170fw-x.y.z.tar.xz with the source is generated for
     each release and placed under carl9170/source/.

   * new firmware binaries are placed in carl9170/.
     (The firmware file name will include the version e.g. 
     carl9170-1.9.9.fw, it won't clash with a previous release.)

   * A symlink from the linux-firmware.git root to the latest 
     carl9170-1.fw in the carl9170 subfolder is added/updated for
     each release.

   For a preview see: [1]
   116 files changed, 3 insertions(+), 26313 deletions(-)
   
2. Simply replace code and firmware binary
   * The code is simply dumped from the carl9170 firmware repository
     into the existing carl9170fw directory.

   * The old firmware binary "carl9170-1.fw" file is replaced by the
     new version.

   For a preview see: [2]
   70 files changed, 2479 insertions(+), 4560 deletions(-)

I would prefer to go with option 1 and move everything into a carl9170
subdirectory. This way has the advantage that we can have multiple 
firmware binaries and sources coexisting in one place. However, I'm 
also aware of the additional "space and bandwidth" cost in this case. 

Please tell me which option you like best or if it should be done
differently. I've prepared a few RFCs (see links), but once we 
settled for the process, I'll make a proper announcement + patches.

Regards

Christian

[1] <https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwOU1CguSZuBdGYxVVlTWnpXSm8>
[2] <https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwOU1CguSZuBT1V2V0s2Smp0UmM>

Re: [RFC] carl9170: new firmware for linux-firmware.git

[Rick Farina]

On 10/25/2013 07:15 PM, Christian Lamparter wrote:
> Hi Ben,
> 
> I'm currently updating the carl9170 firmware to the latest
> version (1.9.9). I've already pushed out the sources and
> updated the binaries over at our wiki (for the last time,
> all future update will be via linux-firmware.git).
> 
> Now, the last item on my check off list is:
> [ ]     new firmware for linux-firmware.git
> 
> Last time - when this topic came up - we had a short brainstorm
> about how to handle updates in the future: 
> <http://marc.info/?l=linux-wireless&m=136115736909708>
> 
> So, I've now prepared some options: 
> 
> 1. Reorganize carl9170 by creating a new subdirectory "carl9170"
>    and move everything in it.
>    * A carl9170fw-x.y.z.tar.xz with the source is generated for
>      each release and placed under carl9170/source/.
> 
>    * new firmware binaries are placed in carl9170/.
>      (The firmware file name will include the version e.g. 
>      carl9170-1.9.9.fw, it won't clash with a previous release.)
> 
>    * A symlink from the linux-firmware.git root to the latest 
>      carl9170-1.fw in the carl9170 subfolder is added/updated for
>      each release.

Why do we need multiple files at all?  Why do they all need to be named
carl9170-1.fw?  imho if the files are compatible then we only need one,
and if they are not compatible then it is insane that they are all
recognized as "carl9170-1.fw" as that makes it impossible for a user to
know "which carl9170-1.fw" they need for a given kernel.

Thanks,
Zero
> 
>    For a preview see: [1]
>    116 files changed, 3 insertions(+), 26313 deletions(-)
>    
> 2. Simply replace code and firmware binary
>    * The code is simply dumped from the carl9170 firmware repository
>      into the existing carl9170fw directory.
> 
>    * The old firmware binary "carl9170-1.fw" file is replaced by the
>      new version.
> 
>    For a preview see: [2]
>    70 files changed, 2479 insertions(+), 4560 deletions(-)
> 
> I would prefer to go with option 1 and move everything into a carl9170
> subdirectory. This way has the advantage that we can have multiple 
> firmware binaries and sources coexisting in one place. However, I'm 
> also aware of the additional "space and bandwidth" cost in this case. 
> 
> Please tell me which option you like best or if it should be done
> differently. I've prepared a few RFCs (see links), but once we 
> settled for the process, I'll make a proper announcement + patches.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Christian
> 
> [1] <https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwOU1CguSZuBdGYxVVlTWnpXSm8>
> [2] <https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwOU1CguSZuBT1V2V0s2Smp0UmM>
> --
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-wireless" in
> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
>