Re: [PATCH -mm] Taskstats fix the structure members alignment issue

[Balbir Singh <balbir@linux.vnet.ibm.com>]

Andrew Morton wrote:
> On Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:29:21 +0530 Balbir Singh <balbir@linux.vnet.ibm.com> wrote:
> 
>>>> The patch adds an __attribute__((aligned(8))) to the
>>>> taskstats structure members so that 32 bit applications using taskstats
>>>> can work with a 64 bit kernel.
>>> But there might be 32-bit applications out there which are using the
>>> present wrong structure?
>>>
>>> otoh, I assume that those applications would be using taskstats.h and would
>>> hence encounter this bug and we would have heard about it, is that correct?
>>>
>> Yes, correct.
>>
>>> otoh^2, 32-bit applications running under 32-bit kernels will presently be
>>> functioning correctly, and your change will require that those applications
>>> be recompiled, I think?
>>>
>> Yes, correct. They would be broken with this fix. We could  bump up the
>> version TASKSTATS_VERSION to 4. Would you like a new patch the version
>> bumped up?
> 
> I can do that.

Thanks

> 
>>> This patch looks like 2.6.20 and 2.6.21 material, but very carefully...
>> Yes, 2.6.20 and 2.6.21 sound correct.
> 
> OK.  I guess we have little choice but to slam it in asap, with a 2.6.20.x backport
> before too many people start using the old interface.

Thanks, again!

-- 
	Balbir Singh
	Linux Technology Center
	IBM, ISTL