Re: [RFC] binary firmware and modules

Jon Masters
2006-04-18T13:16:54Z

On 4/15/06, Jon Masters <jcm@redhat.com> wrote:

> The attached patch introduces MODULE_FIRMWARE as one way of advertising
> that a particular firmware file is to be loaded - it will then show up
> via modinfo and could be used e.g. when packaging a kernel. I've also
> given an example via the QLogic gla2xxx driver.

Ok. If nobody shouts today I'm going to suggest this go into 2.6.17. I
think more ellaborate schemes will come up later, but we also need
something usable out there now.

As others have pointed out, cunning schemes to hack how
request_firmware et al work are all very well and good, but often we
just don't know what firmware we'll need until runtime. Unless or
until there's a good way to address that, I think modules will need to
advertise every firmware and distros will have to package all possible
firmwares, just in case.

Jon.