Re: Use aliases instead of linux,network-index on Ebony

[Josh Boyer <jwboyer@linux.vnet.ibm.com>]

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:49:25 +1100
David Gibson <dwg@au1.ibm.com> wrote:

> On Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 10:34:43PM -0600, Josh Boyer wrote:
> > On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:33:39 +1100
> > David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au> wrote:
> > 
> > > This patch alters the Ebony bootwrapper to use the new preferred
> > > method of using aliases to work out which MAC address to attach to
> > > which ethernet device node, rather than the old method based on the
> > > linux,network-index property.
> > 
> > I like it.  But do we have this new preferred method documented
> > somewhere?  Doesn't seem to be in booting-without-of.txt.  It probably
> > should be added there, and reference to the linux,network-index
> > property removed if this is really preferred now.  Can you add
> > something to this patch for that?
> 
> Hrm.  linux,network-index was mentioned in b-w-o.txt, but to be honest
> I don't think it ever belonged there.  It describes a bootloader to
> kernel interface, whereas network-index was always a bootwrapper
> internal hack, applicable only when the device tree and the fixup code
> were built into the one image.

That's fine.  But can it you remove reference to it then?

> aliases, on the other hand do warrent wider mention, and aren't
> mentioned at all in b-w-o.txt, but that's a matter of larger scope
> than just getting rid of the network-index hack.

My concern is that people writing new ports will continue to copy DTS
files with linux,network-index in it.  Particularly since it's
recommended in b-w-of.txt, and there is no mentioned alternative.

josh