Re: A "new driver model" and EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL question

[Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>]

On Sun, Jul 03, 2005 at 05:12:02PM -0600, Michal Jaegermann wrote:
> It dawned on me only now that a "new driver model" introduced
> in patches from GKH export symbols like that:
> 
> EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(class_create);
> EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(class_destroy);
> 
> and so on.  The problem is that corresponding old symbols, which
> are still present in 2.6.12, were exported
> 
> EXPORT_SYMBOL(class_simple_create);
> EXPORT_SYMBOL(class_simple_destroy);
> ....
> 
> This creates a problem.  There exist out-of-tree drivers which are
> using those symbols

Where?  What drivers?

> and, even if sources are available, are not
> licensed GPL for whatever reasons.  No, I am not the author of any
> of those so I cannot do very much about re-licensing.  As an effect
> a conversion to a "new driver model", even if simple, does not work.
> In particular I bumped into that with Myrinet card drivers.

Then take it up with them.  Users of those symbols have had many months
advance notice that this was going to happen.

> Was a decision to use EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL deliberate and if yes then
> what considerations dictated it, other then the patch author wrote
> it that way, and what drivers in question are supposed to use when
> this change will show up in the mainline?  It looks that 2.6.13
> will do this.

Please see the archives for the answers to these questions.

thanks,

greg k-h