Re: Free Linux Driver Development!

[Dmitri Vorobiev <dmitri.vorobiev@auriga.ru>]

Greg KH пишет:
> Free Linux Driver Development!

Just curious, it is a coincidence or a thoughtful action that this offer 
(which is undoubtedly very attractive and will definitely help the Linux 
user base grow) is published on the very same day when a well-known 
software giant releases a new Major Version of their closed-source 
operating system?

Thanks,

Dmitri

> 
> Yes, that's right, the Linux kernel community is offering all companies
> free Linux driver development.  No longer do you have to suffer through
> all of the different examples in the Linux Device Driver Kit, or pick
> through the thousands of example drivers in the Linux kernel source
> tree trying to determine which one is the closest to what you need to
> do.
> 
> All that is needed is some kind of specification that describes how your
> device works, or the email address of an engineer that is willing to
> answer questions every once in a while.  A few sample devices might be
> good to have so that debugging doesn't have to be done by email, but if
> necessary, that can be done.
> 
> In return, you will receive a complete and working Linux driver that is
> added to the main Linux kernel source tree.  The driver will be written
> by some of the members of the Linux kernel developer community (over
> 1500 strong and growing).  This driver will then be automatically
> included in all Linux distributions, including the "enterprise" ones.
> It will be automatically kept up to date and working through all Linux
> kernel API changes.  This driver will work with all[1] of the different
> CPU types supported by Linux, the largest number of CPU types supported
> by any operating system ever before in the history of computing.
> 
> As for support, the driver will be supported through email by the
> original developers, when they can help out, and by the "enterprise"
> Linux distributors as part of their service agreements with their
> customers.
> 
> If your company is worried about NDA issues surrounding your device's
> specifications, we have arranged a program with OSDL/TLF's Tech Board to
> provide the legal framework where a company can interact with a member
> of the kernel community in order to properly assure that all needed NDA
> requirements are fulfilled.
> 
> Now your developers will have more time to work on drivers for all of
> the other operating systems out there, and you can add "supported on
> Linux" to your product's marketing material.
> 
> This offer is in affect for all different types of devices, from USB
> toys to PCI video devices to high-speed networking cards.  If you build
> it, we can get Linux drivers working for it.
> 
> For any questions about this program, please feel free to respond to
> this email, or contact me directly at greg@kroah.com.  I will also be
> available at FreedomHEC 2007 <http://freedomhec.pbwiki.com/> held
> adjacent to WinHEC, if anyone wants to bring devices and work
> face-to-face.
> 
> thanks,
> 
> greg k-h
> 
> [1] for the CPUs that support the bus types that your device works on.
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