Re: [patch] add kdump_after_notifier

[Vivek Goyal <vgoyal@in.ibm.com>]

On Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 06:18:31AM -0700, Jay Lan wrote:
[..]
> >>> Now user will be able to view all the die_chain users through sysfs and
> >>> be able to modify the order in which these should run by modifying their
> >>> priority. Hence all the RAS tools can co-exist.
> >> This is my image of your proposal.
> >>
> >> - Print current order
> >>
> >> # cat /sys/class/misc/debug/panic_notifier_list
> >> priority   name
> >> 1          IPMI
> >> 2          watchdog
> >> 3          Kdb
> >> 4          Kdump
> >>
> > 
> > I think Bernhard's suggestion looks better here. I noticed that 
> > /sys/kernel/debug is already present. So how about following.
> > 
> > /sys/kernel/debug/kdump/priority
> > /sys/kernel/debug/kdb/priority
> > /sys/kernel/debug/IPMI/priority
> 
> Why separate priority files is better than a central file?
> At least i think you get a grand picture of priority being
> defined for all parties with a central file?
> 

I thought of couple of reasons.
- A very different syntax to modify the priority.
- Separate directories allow easy future extensions in terms of more
  files. For example, putting a small "description" file in each dir
  where each registered user can specify what does it do.

But I agree that a single file is good for consolidated view. As bernhard
suggested, may be we should also implement a read only file where one
will get a consolidated view.

> What do we decide priority if more than one component has
> the same priority value?
> 

I think first come first serve would be appropriate in this case instead of
returning -EINVAL.

Thanks
Vivek