Re: [PATCH] sata_via: PATA support, resubmit

[Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@pobox.com>]

Alan wrote:
>> The problem you need to fix or work around is ata_probe_ent, which 
>> doesn't properly fill in ata_port info for this situation.  Tejun has 
>> posted patches that kill ata_probe_ent, which you were pointed to. 
> 
> And which are not yet in the main tree leaving many users unable to
> install Linux.

The controllers affected by your patch have been around for well over a 
year.  I doubt a huge amount of suffering will be caused by pausing to 
get it right...  especially when you have been pointed at two working 
code examples that already get it right.


> This isn't the way to get stuff done. When you've got the
> new patches in the driver can use them if its worth it (which, see below,
> I question).

In Linux, we work /with/ the subsystem, not around it.

Your current approach is fundamentally flawed.  You can see this because 
e.g. a call to vt6421_ops::scr_read() will immediately oops, after your 
patch.

Just separate PATA and SATA operations.  That way everything works as 
expected, and you don't unintentionally add lovely oopses all over the 
place.

	Jeff